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Child Care in the Greater Chicagoland and Suburbs

Start Early’s Early Head Start Network offers Head Start and Early Head Start services for children from birth to 5 years old and their families. Our programs provide quality child care, early learning support, nutrition advice, home visits, and health services.

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Please review the below options to learn more about our Head Start and Early Head Start agencies and services, to check if you qualify and to enroll your child.

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Learn more about our Head Start and Early Head Start services and see our full list of agencies.

About Our Agencies

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See if You Qualify

Review our eligibility guidelines to confirm you qualify for our services.

View Eligibility Guidelines

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Enroll Now

Complete our online application inquiry form to start your enrollment process.

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About Our Head Start and Early Head Start Agencies

Our Head Start and Early Head Start agencies offer:

  • Social and emotional learning: This type of learning helps children understand and manage their feelings. Our programs use social and emotional learning to create a safe and caring environment that supports teamwork and social skills.
  • Family support services: Our team members help families find medical and dental care, keep health records up to date, set parent-child goals, and provide other important resources and referrals.
  • Diverse learner assistance and support: If your child has different learning needs and you want extra services, we help you understand the Early Intervention eligibility and coordinate services through your local school district.
  • Leadership opportunities: Parents can get involved in leadership roles in our agency and network committees and councils.

Our Community-Based Agencies

Start Early, a federal Head Start grantee, manages or partners with agencies in Chicago, Suburban Cook County, and Lake County to provide quality early learning and care. See all our current agencies that are part of our network.

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Academy for Global Citizenship Logo
Academy for Global Citizenship

Service Areas: Chicago Southwest Side

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Casa Central Logo
Casa Central

Service Areas: Chicago West Side

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Brightpoint Logo
Brightpoint, Formerly Children's Home & Aid

Service Areas: Chicago South Side

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Children's Place Association logo
Children's Place Association

Service Areas: Chicago West Side

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Educare Chicago logo
Educare Chicago

Service Areas: Chicago South Side

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El Hogar Del Nino logo
El Hogar Del Niño

Service Areas: Chicago West Side

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Family Focus

Service Areas: Chicago South Side

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First Step logo
First Step

Service Areas: South Suburban Cook County

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Healthy Parents & Babies logo
Healthy Parents & Babies

Service Areas: Chicago South Side

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Lake County Early Learning Center

Service Areas: Northeast Lake County

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Marillac St. Vincent Family Services

Service Areas: Chicago North & West Side

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One Hope United logo
One Hope United

Service Areas: Chicago South Side, Waukegan Township

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SGA Youth and Family Services logo
SGA Youth & Family Services

Service Areas: Chicago South Side

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Trellus Logo
Trellus

Service Areas: Chicago North Side

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YMCA

Service Areas Chicago South, Southwest & West Side

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Eligibility

Income Requirements and Ages of Children Served

In order to qualify for our Head Start and Early Head Start services, you must meet the federal poverty guidelines and have a child, age five or younger, that you would like to enroll. You must be pregnant to qualify for doula services but can be of any age and at any stage of pregnancy. If your income is above the federal guidelines based on your family size, and/or your child is older than five years of age, you will not qualify for our programs.

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Head Start & Early Head Start Application Form

Please note that this is not an application for CPS or CEL programming.

Start Early partners with Head Start and Early Head Start agencies that deliver doula, home visiting and center-based programs in Chicago, Suburban Cook County and Lake County. We provide services for pregnant people and children prenatally through birth to age 5.

To get started in the enrollment process, please complete this initial contact form and someone will be in touch with you within 48 business hours. Once you submit your application, you will be redirected to a confirmation page with an “OK” button. Please click the “OK” button to continue to onto critical information about the enrollment process, contact details and documents you will need to collect to complete your enrollment process.

Note: Income is an eligibility requirement for our Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

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Start Early Programs

Learn more about our early learning programs in Illinois that support each aspect of your child’s development—starting before birth to age 5.

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Enroll Now

To start enrollment, fill out this initial eligibility form. Once we receive your application, and if you qualify for services, we will connect you with an early learning program in your area.

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Resources for Families

Discover educational activities and resources from Start Early experts to provide easy and engaging educational experiences with your child.

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