Head Start

Family

Finding and Choosing Child Care Financial Assistance and Paying for Care

Sometimes, families may come to your child care program that you are unable to serve, whether due to tuition costs, limited enrollment availability, or because your program is not the best fit for their child or family. Feel free to share the below information with families to support their continued child care journey. Indiana 2-1-1 is also a good place for them to start to get a list of other child care programs and/or local organizations to meet their unique needs.

Quality Care for Low-Income Families

Head Start programs promote the school readiness of infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children from low-income families.

Head Start Programs

Programs are available at no cost to children ages birth to five from low-income families. Programs may provide transportation to the centers so enrolled children can participate regularly. Families and children experiencing homelessness and children in the foster care system are also eligible. Additionally, Head Start services are available to children with disabilities and other special needs.

Head Start Locator

Head Start is designed to ensure that all children - regardless of their family's income, race, or ethnic background - are able to enter kindergarten ready to learn.

Lucille Roybal-Allard

United States Representative

Office of Head Start

Based upon your child’s age, you would qualify and enroll your child in one of two programs.

Birth to three-year-olds

Early Head Start

Early Head Start programs serve infants, toddlers, pregnant people, and their families who have incomes below the federal poverty level.

Three- to five-year-olds

Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children under five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Featured Resource

Head Start Program Guide

Within central Indiana, Head Start programs are managed through a network of local agencies. Use this resource to learn more about Head Start and find and apply to a program near you.

Accessing Resources

Applying to Your Local Program

Your local Head Start program can help you understand the requirements for enrolling your child. They will answer your questions, provide required forms, and tell you what documents you need to apply. Due to limited government funding, there aren’t enough spaces for all eligible children. If there isn’t a space for your child at this time, ask the program to put your family on the waitlist.

Eligibility

Children from birth to age five from families with low income, according to the poverty guidelines published by the federal government, are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services.

Poverty Level Chart

Exceptions

Children in foster care, children experiencing homelessness, and children from families receiving public assistance (TANF or SSI) are eligible regardless of income.

Head Start FAQs

How to Apply

Your local program will provide the required forms and answer your questions. They will also tell you what documents you should bring with you to apply.

Apply Online