Why Head Start?

Head Start is one of the oldest and most respected early care and education programs in the nation.

Action for Boston Community Development, Inc Head Start and Chidren's Services is the largest early childhood provider in Boston, and we are among the top three early childhood providers in the state. In the past four decades, we have established ourselves as national experts in the field of early childhood development, with a proven track record of serving low income families. In Boston, we have doctors, lawyers, teachers, business leaders, and public officials who all got their start in Head Start.

ABCD Head Start serves as a model for early childhood initiatives nationwide and throughout the world. Over the years, our programs have evolved to keep pace with emerging needs, but our core goals and values have remained the same.

Unlike traditional child care and early childhood education programs, Head Start does more than just promote school readiness. We strive to treat the whole child. Research shows that positive educational, social, and health interventions in the preschool years help children succeed in school and life. This means enhancing the social and cognitive development of enrolled children and their families through specially designed programs that target:

• Education
• Health Services
  
• Special education services
  
• Dental health
  
• Mental health
• Social services
  
• Nutritional services

Give Your Child a Head Start

Head Start goes above and beyond what is offered at regular child care and preschool programs. Enrolling your children in Head Start gives them an advantage "a step up" which will provide a strong foundation for their educational experience and help them throughout their lives.

Head Start's approach to child development and education is comprehensive, including the child, family, and community. The program helps children develop social competence by being designed to:

• Be developmentally and linguistically appropriate
• Be inclusive of children with disabilities
• Integrate a comprehensive array of services into the general classroom curriculum
• Provide an environment of acceptance that supports and respects gender, culture, language, ethnicity, and family composition
• Provide a balanced program of child-initiated and adult-directed activities, including individual and small group activities.