Clinton Twp., MI - Macomb Community Action has announced the continuation of the open enrollment period for the Macomb County Head Start program, an initiative which provides free preschool to eligible families and children ages zero to five.
“Early education is one of the greatest investments we can make for our children,” said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. “It provides a foundation for lifelong learning and has a positive impact on health and behavioral outcomes. So enrolling in Head Start is something that parents should absolutely consider. It will give their children the right start in life.”
Head Start has a presence in 18 of 21 Macomb County school districts, with locations in schools, churches and other local facilities. The program offers individualized child education, research-based curriculum, support for dual language learners, parent/caregiver engagement, family goal setting, oral health and physical wellness support, caregiver/early literacy initiatives, nutrition and safety education, and mental health and disability support.
“This program focuses on the child and their parents, as we know they are the primary educators at home,” said Linda Azar, division director for children and family services, Macomb Community Action. “Our holistic approach works to ensure the success of the child at school and in life.”
Individuals interested in enrolling their child in Head Start must meet the following requirements:
- Household income must be at or below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Must be a pregnant mother or family with children ages zero to five
And this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Head Start announced that families currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would be automatically eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services,
Created through federal programming in 1965, Head Start has served more than 30 million children, growing from an eight-week demonstration project to now featuring full day/year services and many other options.
Additional enrollment information and an application for Macomb County’s program can be found here. A promotional video featuring County Executive Mark Hackel is available here as well.