Preschool Head Start

The core elements of Preschool Head Start include:

Early Childhood Education

• High quality programs are designed to meet each child’s individual needs 
• Intellectual, social and emotional growth are fostered 

Health and Dental Services

• Families are assisted in securing primary health care so that complete physicals are administered, including vision, hearing and dental exams, and children receive proper immunizations.

Nutrition

• A healthy meal, plus a snack, are served each day 
• Healthy eating habits are taught and encouraged 

Social Services and Parent Involvement

• In partnership with each family, needs are assessed and assistance in connecting with community services is provided 
• Positive parent-child interactions are promoted 
• Volunteer and governance opportunities help parents build new skills 

More Services  

Special Needs

• Appropriate education and full classroom integration are provided 
• Speech/language therapy is available 

Mental Health 

• Behavior problems, substance abuse, child abuse, developmental delays and more can be addressed 

Arts-In-Education 

• Many classes benefit from the nationally known Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts program 

Literacy 

• Adult literacy education is combined with parent-child interaction activities 
• Children receive new books for their home libraries 
• Part of a national “Center for Excellence” effort, the Phoenix Early Reading First program promotes preschoolers’ language and early literacy skills, helping them prepare for kindergarten 

Eligibility 

• Family income must be at or below the federal poverty guidelines 
• Children enrolling in the preschool program must be 3 or 4 years old by September 1 of the school year 
• Children must live in the Balsz, Creighton, Madison Park, Osborn, or Paradise Valley school districts 

For more information or to enroll, call Southwest Head Start at (602) 468-3431.