Welcome to the Franklin County Head Start website.

     The Head Start program provides comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families, with a special focus on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills they need to be successful in school. The Head Start program promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families. We engage our parents in their children's learning and help them in making progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Significant emphasis is placed on the involvement of parents in the administration of the Head Start program.

     The Early Head Start Program provides comprehensive, year-round, child and family development services to low-income families with children, prenatal to three years old. During weekly home visits and parent-toddler activity groups, trained Early Head Start staff plan activities with families to foster the child's development, increase family literacy, promote healthy parent-child relationships, provide parenting support and education, and assist expectant families in preparing for their new baby. Parents are assisted with transitioning their children into Head Start or other preschool programs when the child reaches age three. Families are linked to community resources such as food, clothing, housing, child care, employment, English classes, health care and mental health counseling. This Program is funded by a Federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Please see the services page for more information.