What is 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
What services are available?
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 more information, please contact or visit the Early Head Start program closest to you.
| Facility Name | Address | Phone Number | Fax Number | Counties Served | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Human Services | 4515 West Main |
(660) 826-4400 | (866) 852-5635 | Pettis and Morgan | https://www.chs-mo.org/ |
| Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area | 302 South Joplin Ave |
(417) 781-0352 | (417) 781-1234 | Barton, Jasper, McDonald, Newton | https://www.escswa.org/ |
| Jefferson/Franklin Community Action Corp. | #2 Merchant Dr. |
(636) 789-2686 | Franklin and Jefferson | https://www.jfcac.org/ | |
| Mid-America Regional Council | 600 Broadway, Suite 200 |
(816) 421-7759 | (816) 421-7759 | Jackson | https://www.marc.org/ |
| Missouri Valley Community Action Agency | 1415 South Odell |
(660) 886-7476 | (660) 886-3398 | Carroll, Chariton, Johnson, Lafayette, and Ray | http://www.mvcaa.net/ |
| Northeast Missouri Community Action Agency | 215 North Elson |
(660) 665-9855 | (660)-665-5542 | Adair, Clark, Knox, Schuyler and Scotland | https://www.nmcaa.org/ |
| Youth In Need | 1815 Booneslick Road |
(636) 946-5600 | (636) 946-2900 | Lincoln, Montgomery, St. Charles, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Warren | https://www.youthinneed.org/ |
| YWCA of Metro St. Louis | 1911 Beltway Drive |
(314) 427-4940 | (314) 427-7986 | St. Louis City & County | https://www.ywcastl.org/ |