California Head Start

Program Description
Head Start is a national program administered by the Head Start Bureau within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that provides comprehensive developmental services for low-income children from birth to entry into elementary school.

Head Start is currently funded at over $6.6 billion and serves more than 912,000 low-income children and families nationwide. The program is child-centered, family-focused, comprehensive, and community-based. Head Start services are designed to address developmental goals for children, employment and self-sufficiency goals for adults, and support for parents in their work and child-caring roles.

Head Start is a direct Federal-to-local program administered by over 1,500 locally based public or private organizations, called "grantees," across the country.

General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the State of California, you must be a parent or primary caregiver responsible for a child who is too young for public school and your household's annual income before taxes must not exceed $9,310 if you have one person in the household; $12,490 if you have two people living in the household; $15,670 if you have three people living in the household; $18,850 if you have four people living in the household; $22,030 if you have five people living in the household; $25,210 if you have six people living in the household; $28,390 if you have seven people living in the household; $31,570 if you have eight people living in the household; $34,750 if you have nine people living in the household; $37,930 if you have 10 people living in the household; $41,110 if you have 11 people living in the household; $44,290 if you have 12 people living in the household; $47,470 if you have 13 people living in the household; $50,650 if you have 14 people living in the household; $53,830 if you have 15 people living in the household; $57,010 if you have 16 people living in the household; and $60,190 if you have 17 people living in the household.

If you do not meet these criteria, you may still qualify if you are a U.S. national, citizen or permanent resident whose financial status is low income or very low income, who is under-employed, unemployed or about to become unemployed, facing pregnancy, less than 19 years of age yourself, or the parent or primary caregiver for children under the age of 19 years. Other qualifications may apply.

Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.

Contact Information (Register above for free access!)

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