Center-Based Head Start & Early Head Start

• We offer part-day and full-day child care and high-quality education
• We build a strong relationship with your family
• We partner with you to meet your goals
• We provide meals, snacks, diapers, and formula as needed while in care

Part-day services are available for preschool children. Extended-day and full-day services are available for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. See Overview for services by town.

There are many ways that your child could be eligible for our part-day and extended-day options.

• If your family has a low income
• If anyone in your family receives SSI, DTA Cash, or SNAP benefits
• If your child is a foster child
• If your family is staying with friends or family temporarily, living in a shelter or motel, or otherwise without housing

There are many ways that your child could be eligible for our full-day options.

• If your family already has a child care voucher
• If your family has an open case with the Department of Children and Families
• If your family’s income is under 50% of the State Median Income and parents in your family have a need for childcare (employment, school or job search)

To learn more about how you may be eligible, click here.

1. You can apply online here or call 413-387-1250.
2. Once you apply, one of our enrollment staff members will contact you to start the process.
3. Before we can place you on the waitlist, we will meet with you virtually or in person. We will collect documentation of your eligibility. We will also collect your child’s birth certificate and health records. During our meeting with you, we will discuss what other program options interest you.
4. Once we have everything we need, we will place you or your child on our waitlist.
5. When we have openings in our program, we accept participants from the waitlist. If we accept your child into the program, we will notify you either by phone or letter.
6. Before you or your child can begin the program, your Family Advocate will meet with you to finish enrolling.

Our full-day, center-based program is for families who are eligible for financial assistance through the state of MA. There are different ways to get financial assistance for childcare.

• If you have an open case with the Department of Children and Families, your social worker can send us a child care referral.
• If you already have a child care voucher, please apply online here or call 413-387-1250.
• Or, you can be on the state waitlist for child care. Our program and other programs in the area have access to this waitlist. To get onto the state waitlist for child care:
  • Apply online, here, or call 413-387-1250 and we can add you.
  • Call 211 for the Massachusetts Child Care Information Line.

Once we have an opening in the program, we will refer to our internal waitlist and the MA state waitlists to accept children into the program. If we have a space for your child, we will notify you by phone or letter. Before your child can begin in the program, our enrollment staff will meet with you. During this meeting, we will collect required documentation and information.

This process can be complicated! Please call and we are happy to help you and answer your questions!

Your child will attend one of our center-based sites with highly-qualified Educators. Hours per day and days per year vary by site and classroom. You will get to know your child’s caregiving team and how your classroom works.

Center-Based Head Start includes “comprehensive services.” These services are whatever YOUR family needs to meet your goals for your child and family. A Family Advocate will be your partner and will get to know your family and your hopes, wishes, and goals. You will also hear about our support staff, experts in mental health, special needs, and more. We can’t wait to meet you!

If you work for a community organization, you can refer someone to our program. Please click here to download our Referral Form. Once you return the form, we will reach out to the family. Your referral will give them priority for enrollment.