Early Childhood

Serving Goodhue, Rice and Wabasha Counties. Contact us for details.

Head Start is a comprehensive preschool program focusing on child development and serving 3- and 4-year-old children and their families. Head Start establishes relationships that promote growth and development in young children and encourages the self-sufficiency of families. The program is family-centered, strength-based and designed to foster the parent’s role as the principle influence on their child’s development and to assist families in developing and achieving self-reliance. Head Start’s approach to service includes: Health, Nutrition, Education, Parent Involvement, Social Services, Mental Health, Disabilities and School Readiness.

Upon acceptance into Head Start, each child will be required to have a Physical and a Dental form completed at their medical and dental home. Feel free to contact us for assistance finding these clinics. You may find the forms below, or feel free to contact us to have them mailed to you. Even if you are not yet accepted, you can download these forms and get a head start on completing them.

See eligibility guidelines. When submitting your application be sure to include documentation of your income. We consider gross income from the twelve months immediately preceding the month in which the application is made, or the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the application is made.

Early Head Start is a home visiting program for pregnant women and children ages 0-3. The program consists of weekly, 90-minute home visits focusing on connection to resources, parenting, early intervention, and preparation for Head Start (or other preschool program). The application and eligibility are the same as Head Start.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

• Minnesota Head Start Association
  www.mnheadstart.org
• National Head Start Association
  www.nhsa.org
• Think Small
  www.thinksmall.org
• Childcare Works
  www.childcareworks.org
• Child Care Resource & Referral
  www.mnchildcare.org
• Minnesota Community Action Partnership
  www.minncap.org
• Minnesota Department of Education
  www.education.state.mn.us
• Head Start Early Childhood Knowledge and Learning Center
  eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov
• Early Head Start National Resource Center
  www.ehsnrc.org
• Parent Aware’s star ratings help you find the type of quality, nurturing programs that will help prepare your babies, toddlers and preschoolers for school and life.
• The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5. CSEFEL is a national resource center funded by the Office of Head Start and Child Care Bureau for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country.
• The Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) takes the research that shows which practices improve the social-emotional outcomes for young children with, or at risk for, delays or disabilities.