“It takes a village to raise a child.” ~ African proverb

YCCAC’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs are committed to providing high-quality early childhood care and education to children 6 weeks to 5 years across York County.

Teachers, family liaisons, and parents work together to make sure every child is prepared to succeed in school and in life. Our lessons are developed to match each child’s social, emotional, physical, and educational growth. This way, they will feel confident and excited as they get ready for kindergarten and beyond!

Early Head Start for Infants & Toddlers

Our Early Head Start rooms provide full-day childcare and education to children 6 weeks to 3 years old. If you are a new mom or mom-to-be utilizing our WIC services we strongly encourage you to apply for the Early Head Start program.

What we offer in the Early Head Start program:

• Full-day, year-round schedule
• Small group size of 8 children with staff trained in infant/toddler development
• Individualized infant feeding and sleeping routines
• Diapers, wipes, formula, and many other items provided as needed during school time
• Nutritious meals and snacks to toddlers
• Daily written communications to parents
• Monthly family engagement events to connect learning between home and school.
• Age-appropriate classroom activities that grow the child’s social, emotional, and cognitive abilities.

“The quality of care in Early Head Start is unmatched. Nurturing, supportive and trustworthy teachers instilled positive learning techniques for independence, safety and social skills.  ~Early Head Start parent

Head Start for Preschoolers

Our Head Start classrooms are for children 3 to 5 years old. With a focus on school readiness, the daily schedule includes activities promoting social, emotional, physical, and educational growth and skills.

What we provide in the Head Start program:

• School-year schedule
• Nutritious meals and snacks
• Individualized curriculum to support literacy, numeracy and math skills, creativity, health and nutrition
• Social-emotional learning program focused on child’s well-being
• Full-day pre-K classrooms in partnership with Biddeford public schools (transportation provided)

“My husband and I are very appreciative of the time they have dedicated getting to know our son on a personal level, not just another student in the classroom.”

– York County Head Start Parent

Support for the Whole Family

Family members’ active involvement in the child’s early education builds language, socialization, and cognitive abilities. We know that when a family does well, a child does well. That is why our commitment goes beyond just your child’s well-being and education. We will work with you to figure out what else your family might need, set goals, and find resources to help with those needs. When your child joins our program, you become a part of a friendly community of teachers, staff, and other families—a group that is always there to help with information and support.

A staff member from Head Start will work in partnership with you to understand your family’s specific goals and help connect you to available resources as needed.

Teamwork in Action: Teachers, Staff, and Families Joining Forces

We believe it is important to help families grow, not just the children. We offer educational opportunities, leadership roles, and volunteering that not only benefit Head Start classrooms but bring multiple personal benefits. If you are a parent, grandparent, or just someone who cares about children and wants to help, we would love to have you join the Head Start program! Contact our Family Engagement Manager, Jennifer Pettit at jennifer.pettit@yccac.org or call 207-459-2980.

Interested in working with us?

We have both part-time and full-time openings. We have year-round positions and positions aligned with the local School District calendar. Visit our job board to apply. If you would like to know more about a position, contact Sarah Gallant at headstart@yccac.org.

Eligibility

Your family may qualify for the Head Start or Early Head program if:

• Your family’s income is at or below the federal poverty level.
• You are experiencing homelessness.
• You have children in foster care.
• You are receiving TANF, SSI, or SNAP.

Submit your application today to see if your family qualifies!

This website is supported by Grant Number 1CH012124 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of York County Community Action Corporation and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.