Early Head Start

The Early Head Start (EHS) program provides an early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development program to children under the age of 3 and whose family's incomes are at or below the federal poverty line.

Early Head Start goals and focuses include:

  • Promotion of children's physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development and future growth and development for infants and toddlers
  • Support parents and guardians to fulfill parental roles as primary caregivers and educators
  • Help parents move toward self-sufficiency by strengthening community supports
  • Increasing quality and capacity of child care programs for families who are in school/training, receiving Temporary Assistance (TA), at risk of child abuse or neglect, or have an incapacitated parent

Services to the families include:

  • Comprehensive health and mental health services
  • Home visits
  • Services to improve healthy behavior such as smoking cessation and substance abuse treatment
  • Coordinate programs providing services in accordance with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
  • Provide Parent Education including parent-child activities and child development information
  • Ongoing support through case management, peer support groups, adult education and basic literacy skills, job training, job placement services, assistance in obtaining support

How do I get help?

For assistance, please contact or visit the Early Head Start program closest to you.

Facility Name Address City Phone Number Counties Served
Children's Therapy Center of Pettis County 4515 West Main St Sedalia 660-826-4400 Pettis
Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph 817 Monterey St. Joseph 816-233-8281 Buchanan, Andrew, Clinton and DeKalb
Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation 99 Skyview Rd. Portageville 573-379-3851 Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott and Stoddard
Douglas Community Services, Inc. 711 Grand Hannibal 573-221-3892 Lewis, Ralls, Marion, Monroe, Pike, Macon, Randolph and Shelby
Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area 302 South Joplin Joplin 417-781-0352 Jasper, McDonald and Newton
Mid-America Regional Council 600 Broadway, Ste. 200 Kansas City 816-421-7759 Jackson, Clay and Platte
Missouri Valley Community Action Agency 1415 South O'Dell Marshall 660-886-7476 Carroll, Lafayette, Johnson and Saline
Northeast Missouri Community Action Agency 215 South Elson Kirksville 660-665-9855 Adair
Youth In Need 1815 Boone's Lick Rd St. Charles 636-946-5600 St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren and Montgomery
YWCA of Metro St. Louis 1911 Beltway Dr. St. Louis 314-427-4940 St. Louis City and St. Louis County

Additional Resources