The Children’s Community Head Start and Early Head Start is funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is designed to support families and children living under the federal poverty level. The only other requirement is that you live within our catchment area of 13 school districts: Comsewogue, Connetquot, Sachem, Middle Country, Rocky Point, Sayville, Mount Sinai, Port Jefferson, Three Village, Miller Place, and parts of Smithtown, Longwood, and Shorham/Wading River.

The first step is to click the enrollment tab and fill out the first part of your application. You will be asked general questions to determine eligibility. You will then be contacted by a Family Advocate or Home Visitor to schedule an appointment to complete the application. Enrollment determination is based on specific selection criteria, and is not first come first served. If you are not accepted into the program, you will be placed on a waiting list. The family advocate can also refer you to other programs to help you pay for child care and/or preschool, such as a child care subsidy through the Suffolk County Department of Social Services and the Universal Pre-kindergarten program through your local school district.

Children with disabilities can enroll in Head Start. In addition to the high-quality early childhood educational experience at The Children’s Community Head Start, we will help you access appropriate disability services through Suffolk County or through your local school district. Many children receive their therapies during the day while they are here at the program. We also enroll children with disabilities in our home based program.

In addition to the comprehensive educational program for infants, toddlers and preschoolers enrolled in our center based program, all families will be assigned a Family Advocate. The Family Advocate will work with you to determine and work toward family and personal goals which may include job training, finding employment, enrolling in school, learning English, accessing health services, or improving parenting skills. In addition, families are encouraged to participate in a number of ways such as volunteering in the classroom, attending parenting training events and by being active on the Head Start policy council. Pregnant women and children enrolled in the home based program will work with their Home Visitor on all of these family services and attend monthly Socialization events. All children and families also receive comprehensive health, dental, nutrition and mental health assessments and services.

The Children’s Community Head Start and Early Head Start does not provide transportation. Families are required to provide their own transportation. Some families carpool to save on gas and to accommodate each other’s work schedules.

Each center has limited availability of before and after care for children whose parent is working, or enrolled in school.

Yes, if your child is enrolled in our center based program, they are required to maintain a regular schedule which is Monday – Friday, 9:00 am- 3:30 pm.

At The Children’s Community Head Start and Early Head Start we pride ourselves and celebrate our diversity. We have many bi-lingual staff members who speak the following languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, and Urdu. We strive to be culturally sensitive and to support English language learners in their native language as well as in English language acquisition.