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. Child Development, Inc. offers the center-based Head Start program in 12 counties in Arkansas and the home-bassed Head Start program in nine counties. For more information on sites, visit the Locations tab on the homepage.

The program serves children ages 3 to 5 years. Parents qualify using the Federal Poverty Guidelines (http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml).

Head Start programs promote 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. They engage 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 local Head Start programs.

Source: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/about/index.html#prog_desc