Head Start Programs in Washington State

Head Start, established in 1965, provides comprehensive child development services for children between birth and age five, pregnant women and their families. Head Start has the overall goal of helping children from low-income families become ready to succeed at school.

The Office of Head Start in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) provides funding for grants to local public agencies, private organizations, Indian tribes, and school systems. These organizations, in turn, operate Head Start programs. They provide services in the areas of education and early childhood development; medical, dental, and mental health; disabilities; nutrition; and parent involvement. An underlying premise of Head Start services is that they should be appropriate for the child's and family's developmental, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage and experience.

Four types of Head Start programs that meet the diverse needs of children and families in our state include:

Head Start: Head Start is a program specifically designed to serve preschool children ages three to five. In 2007, nearly 12,000 children were served in 28 Head Start programs around the state.

Early Head Start: In 1995, the Early Head Start program was established to serve pregnant mothers and children from birth to three years of age in recognition of the mounting evidence that the earliest years matter a great deal to children’s growth and development. In 2007, nearly 2,800 pregnant mothers and children were served in 20 programs around the state.

Migrant/Seasonal Head Start: Established in 1969, Migrant/Seasonal Head Start has been a leader in providing services in some of our nation's most rural areas to meet the needs of the children of migrant and seasonal workers. In 2007, the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs Branch served approximately 3,200 children (ages birth to five) and their families in Washington. The Washington State Migrant Council and Enterprise for Progress in the Community (EPIC) operate the only two Migrant/Seasonal Head Start programs in Washington.

American Indian/Tribal Head Start: Established to serve American Indian children and their families, the American Indian/Tribal Head Start program provides services for children birth to age five. In 2007, American Indian/Tribal Head Start served nearly 1,300 children and their families in 17 programs around the state.