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 67 counties in the state of Pennsylvania. 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.
Saint Benedict's Child Development Center was Erie's first accredited early child care facility. A staff of 40 full and part-time teachers manages daycare, head start for migrant children, and infant care programs.
Head Start is a pre-school program supported by federal (through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) and state funds (through the Pennsylvania Department of Education). This comprehensive child-development program serves families with children three to five years of age residing in the Allegheny County/Pittsburgh area whose family income does not exceed 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Head Start is a child-focused program that involves parents in the process to improve a child's readiness for kindergarten. The program provides a range of individualized educational services in the areas of language development, math, science, and social skills. Early childhood development, behavioral health and nutrition awareness are also part of the program. In most cases, Head Start programs take place in classrooms and are full-day.
Head Start provides high-quality, comprehensive programming and services to families with preschool children. These services improve school readiness in both home and classroom settings.
Head Start is a child and family development program that promotes the school readiness of children by supporting their growth in language, literature, math, science, social and emotional development, creative arts and physical arts. Head Start also provides children and families support with health, educational, nutritional, social and other services to allow parents and children to grow and be successful in life. The program can be done through home visits, classroom time or a combination of both. This program is available in Bedford and Fulton counties.
Armstrong County CAA Head Start is a comprehensive preschool child development program that serves low income children ages three to five (3-5) and their families. In order to be considered for Head Start, a child must turn three (3) by August 31 and must not be of kindergarten age.
The Head Start program locally is administered by the Berks Community Action Program (BCAP), which receives the federal grant to operate the program in Berks County. BCAP, in turn, contracts with the BCIU to operate the program throughout the county.Children ages 3-5 attend classes approximately four hours per day, four days a week during the school year; transportation is provided. In addition, we have three classes that provide services to children in the afternoon at the Oley Center, the Reading Muhlenberg Center, and the Blue Marsh Center. These sites serve also as hands-on experience for high school students enrolled in Berks Career and Technology Center's Occupational Child Development programs.
Laurel Health System's Bradford-Tioga Head Start, an educational preschool program for three- to five-year-olds, includes 11 Head Start sites (listed below) located throughout Tioga and Bradford counties. Eligibility is based on federal income guidelines. Classroom activities help youngsters improve their self-image and increase physical, social, self-help, and school readiness skills. Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the classroom. Through Head Start's Policy Council, made up of volunteers, parents take an active role in designing the program and managing budget issues and staff selection.
Head Start A CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMFirst launched as an eight-week summer program in 1965, and was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children from low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social health, and psychological needs.
Widely recognized as the most successful anti-poverty programs of the 1960's, Head Start continues to promote school readiness for children ages 3 to 5 from low-income families. Head Start is the largest program administered by the Community Action Program with over 800 children and families served in 14 centers throughout Lancaster County
Head Start is a family-focused program aimed at increasing the school readiness of young children. Children attend classes and the family receives adult-centered home visits. The Head Start program provides a range of individualized services for families. Services offered include early childhood development; developmental nutrition and family goal setting. Opportunities for parent involvement and parent workshops are offered. The program welcomes children with disabilities