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 96 counties in the state of Iowa. 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.
Early childhood program options for children ages three and four. Classrooms in Sioux City serve a diverse population of low-income children with activities that help them grow academically, socially, emotionally and physically. Classroom hours vary. Home Visitors serve rural Woodbury County with weekly in-home visits. Income eligibility is based on 100% of current Federal Poverty Guidelines, with some allowances for higher income participants with special needs
Unlike traditional childcare and early childhood education programs, Head Start does more than promote one approach. We strive to focus on the whole child. We respect the importance of all aspects of an individual’s development, including social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth.
Community Action of Southeast Iowa Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide center based Head Start/Early Head Start services for eligible families in Des Moines, Henry, Louisa, and Lee counties in Southeast Iowa. Children are served through two program options in Head Start – part day and full day programs. Full day programs are for parents working, in school or in training. All Early Head Start programs are full day programs for parents working, in school or in training. Part day children are transported to and from school.
Drake University Head Start, including Early Head Start, is the largest Head Start grantee in the state of Iowa and one of only a few university-based Head Start programs in the nation. Drake University Head Start serves children from birth to age three through the Early Head Start program and children ages three and four and their families through the 3 and 4-year-old preschool program.
Head Start is a federally funded comprehensive child development program that serves income eligible children ages 3 to 5 and their families. The DesMoines Head Start program is a delegate of the Drake University Head Start program and serves over 400 children.
Building better Iowa communities involves ensuring the success of our children. HACAP focuses on early child development to provide essential resources to children during a critical time of growth. Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development programs that serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. They are child-focused programs and have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.
Head Start is ready to give your child the school ready skills for a successful kindergarten experience! Parents are the child’s first teacher so we want to work with you in this process.
Head Start gives children ages 3 and 4 the opportunity to grow and learn in a high quality early childhood setting. The program is specifically tailored to meet the educational and social needs of preschool-aged children. MICA has Head Start locations in Eldora, Grinnell, Huxley, Iowa Falls, Marshalltown, Nevada, Story City, and Tama. Head Start offers half-day and full-day classes with availability depending on the community.
Head Start is a free comprehensive preschool for children ages 3 & 4. It provides children with activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally & physically.
Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development programs which serve children from birth to age five, pregnant women and their families. The programs are child-focused and have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.