Why Head Start?

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

Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD) Head Start and Children's Services is the largest early childhood provider in Boston. We are among the top three early childhood providers in the state and have established ourselves as national experts in the field of early childhood development with a proven track record of serving low income families.

Unlike traditional child care and other early childhood education programs, Head Start promotes school readiness. We strive to treat the whole child by enhancing social and cognitive development of enrolled children and their families through:

• Education
• Health Services
  
• Special Education Services
  
• Dental Health
  
• Mental Health
• Social Services
  
• Nutritional Services

Research shows that positive educational, social, and health interventions in the preschool years help children succeed in school and life.

Give Your Child a Head Start

Enrolling your child in Head Start gives them an advantage, "a step up," providing a strong foundation for their educational experience that will help them throughout their lives.

Head Start's approach to child development and education is comprehensive assessment that includes the child, family, and community. The program helps children develop social competence 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.