Head Start

Head Start, located at 309 Office Plaza Drive in Tallahassee, Florida, is an institution that has been providing quality school-readiness services to preschool children for over 50 years. The program was established in the early 1960s to address the developmental needs of low-income children and to ensure that they enter school ready to learn.

The program is administered by the Capital Area Community Action Agency, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating the causes and conditions of poverty. Head Start is funded primarily by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, with a local match requirement met through volunteer services and donations.

Head Start offers preschool and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) services for children aged three to five at six centers in Leon, Jefferson, and Franklin counties. The program aims to promote social, emotional, physical, and educational development in young children, with a focus on preparing them for school.

The program currently serves over 300 children in Leon County, as well as children in Jefferson and Franklin counties. Services are provided by a combination of full and part-time staff, consultants, service providers, and volunteers, including parents.

In addition to preschool services, Head Start offers a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program (VPK) at many centers. To qualify for the program, children must be three or four years old by September 1st, meet Federal income guidelines, and reside in one of the three counties served.

The mission of Head Start is to empower children and families to become self-sufficient through comprehensive services that address their social, emotional, economic, and physical needs. With a focus on school readiness and community involvement, Head Start continues to make a positive impact on the lives of low-income children and families in the Tallahassee area.