The Children’s Center is the grantee for the Western Tidewater Head Start program, which provides family-centered services to low-income families with children from three to five. Head Start promotes the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth of young children as well as supports parents’ roles as primary caregivers and educators. 

Head Start promotes school readiness by serving families of economically-disadvantaged children with educational, health, nutritional, social and other services. Head Start, a program that began in 1965, engages parents in their children's learning and assists parents in making progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals.

Studies of the Head Start programs found that Head Start increases educational achievement:raising test scores, decreasing the need for children to receive special education services and making it less likely that children will repeat a grade. Head Start graduates are also more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services funds Head Start and this funding must be matched locally at 25%. For each dollar given to the program, the Children’s Center must match it with 25 cents given locally.

POLICY COUNCIL

Parent and community representatives form the Early Head Start/Head Start Policy Council, which develops plans, policies, procedures, and budgets for the program. The Council also contributes to hiring of staff. Early Head Start and Head Start parents comprise at least 51% of the Council.

REFERRAL AND ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for Early Head Start or Head Start, you must live in Western Tidewater (Franklin, Southampton County, Suffolk, Smithfield, or Isle of Wight County) and either be a TANF recipient, have a foster child, or have a total annual family income not exceeding these amounts:

Size of family            Income
1…………………………………$12,140
2…………………………………$16,460
3…………………………………$20,780
4…………………………………$25,100
Add $4,320 for each additional family member.

Note:

As of May 1, 2015, all applications will be accepted by appointment only. 

The application process includes several parts, all of which must be completed in order for your child to be placed on our Waiting List.  The following items are required to complete the application process:

• Birth certificate (birth letter is acceptable for EHS only)
• Proof of residency
• Proof of income or eligibility using one of these -- W-2,  1040 tax form,  4 most recent pay stubs,  TANF or SSI documentation, unemployment letter, foster child documentation
• Child’s current physical form
• Child’s current immunization records
• Child’s health insurance card
• IEP or IFSP if applicable

The Children's Center can assist you in gathering these items.

At the appointment, you will be asked to complete an application and Selection Criteria Ranking Scale form.

Contact the Family Advocate in your service area to schedule an appointment.

Franklin  562-6806

Suffolk  809-5557

Southampton County  653-9792

Isle of Wight County  356-1004

Early Intervention | Pediatric Therapy | Early Care and Education | Early Head Start |  Behavioral Health Services | Grief Support Group