Federally-funded head start programs help prepare young children from low-income families, ages birth to five
years old, and their parents for the social and educational challenges that young children face as they
develop. Each head start program focuses on providing comprehensive services designed to enhance a child's
emotional, social, cultural, language, reading, mathematics, science, health and nutrition education.
This head start center locator page contains links to listings of programs offered in the 100 counties in the state of Illinois. Each listings page contains the name, address and contact
information for a specific county's available centers. From that page, use additional links to explore
individual center facts, application instructions and directions.
Our head start center locator features the number of head start centers per county in parentheses ( ) to the
right of the county names. To see a current list of your county's head start centers, click your county's
name.
BCMW Head Start is a federally funded, comprehensive child development program which strives to promote a rich, nurturing, learning environment for families of Bond, Clinton, Marion, Washington and Franklin Counties, offering exciting opportunities and ensuring the highest level of services. We are committed to continuing the proud heritage of serving children and families that has been our trademark since 1965.
C.E.F.S. Head Start operates 16 Head Start classrooms in twelve locations. Each center provides at least a half-day session in either the morning and/or afternoon Monday through Thursday. Each session lasts 3 1/2 hours and includes a healthy meal and snack. Transportation assistance is provided in the form of bus services, stipends, or coordinating services with other schools.
Early Childhood Services is comprised of a variety of services for children under the age of five years and their low-income families. Programs include traditional Head Start and Early Head Start programs as well as childcare. Through these programs children participate in education and social activities, receive help accessing medical and dental care, and have healthy meals and snacks all within a safe and developmentally appropriate setting. Parents play a key role in their child's development and as such become active participants in various aspects of the programs.
As a national program, Head Start began in 1965 and CEDA initiated the first Head Start program in suburban Cook County just two years later. CEDA Head Start currently serves 2,877 pre-school children and their families through thirty Head Start centers in suburban Cook County.
Head Start (Birth to 5)
Provides home based and center based programs for children from birth through 5 years. Locally designed options include half day, full day, and home visiting. U.S.D.A. food program for center based services. This program serves low income families.
Head Start is a developmentally appropriate, early literacy-based program where learning is child centered. Head Start is offered for children 3-5 years old and has been available in District 65 since the mid-1960’s. In Head Start children receive an active learning experience in the classroom.
Licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pillars' Child and Family Development Center offers Head Start, Early Head Start and high quality childcare for low-income and working poor families. Tri-lingual teachers, family support specialists, and advocates work with families to ensure that our children receive a strong, healthy start in life.
Resurrection Behavioral Health Early/Head Start is a federally-funded program that helps children grow mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. Important components that the program offers include:• Parent-child activities• Childcare• Home visits• Parent support• Screenings• Ongoing assessments• Parent trainings• Family goal setting• Fieldtrips
Program Information
Head Start/Early Head Start is a Federal program for child and family development.
Focuses on ensuring children’s cognitive, social-emotional and health readiness for kindergarten.
Promotes family strengths for long term benefit to child and family.
Serves families with children from birth to kindergarten age and pregnant mothers.
$5 Million Budget: Head Start, Early Head Start, IL State Board of Education (ISBE), Child-Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Full-day Child Care, Champaign County Developmental Disabilities Board.
106 Staff: 62 teaching staff, 12 family advocates, 6 bus drivers, 3 cooks, 3 clerks, 4 partnership mentors, 1 family services specialist, a mental health specialist, a secretary and 13 managers.
Head Start is an early childcare and education program for children ages 3 to 5 from low-income families. The comprehensive program promotes school readiness, provides nutritious meals and access to free medical and dental services. In addition, Head Start offers parents educational and training programs.Federally funded and administered by FSS, Head Start has locations throughout the city in community-based organizations, private day care programs and Chicago Public Schools. Head Start children get the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.