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OCFS home > Early Childhood > Child Care and Head Start > Information for Parents > Head Start
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Head Start

Head Start External site disclaimer is a comprehensive early childhood development program that server low-income and their families.

Children from birth to age five whose families meet the Federal poverty guidelines are eligible for Head Start services.

Review the current Head Start Family Income Guidelines (2007) External site disclaimer.

Children with disabilities whose families are above the Head Start poverty guidelines may still be eligible to enroll in Head Start programs.

To find a Head Start program near you, search the National Head Start Bureau's External site disclaimer database of Head Start grantees. You will get a list of agencies that administer programs throughout the state. The agency will be able to tell you where their programs are located, explain more about eligibility requirements, and inform you about openings that may be available.

There are different Head Start program options available for families in Maine:

  • Head Start refers to programs geared for children 3-5 years of age.
  • Early Head Start refers to programs geared for children 0-3 years of age.
  • Migrant Head Start refers to those programs designed for children, 0-5 years, of migrant and seasonal worker families.
  • American Indian Alaskan Native Head Start address the specific needs of children, 0-5 years of age, from these populations.
  • Home Start refers to Head Start and Early Head Start programs that are offered in family child care homes.