The city of Phoenix, Maricopa County and Southwest Human Development Head Start programs have joined together to recruit children for the 2000-2001 year. Families must meet federal poverty guidelines for family size and income level, and children must be three or four before Sept. 1 to be eligible to enroll. Head Start helps children succeed and provides lasting benefits to families. The program offers individualized teaching, nutritious meals, health screenings, well-equipped classrooms and a safe, stimulating environment. Head Start is a federally funded child development program that provides comprehensive early childhood education, mental and physical development, services to children with special needs, opportunities for parental involvement and social services at no cost.
Some sites also offer child care services.
Nationally, the program serves an estimated 800,000 children from low-income families.