Early Head Start

Alabama Council on Human Relations

-Committed to equal opportunity, and providing services and advocacy to Alabama children and families in need since 1954

Early Head Start

Early Head Start is the newest part of the ACHR Child Development Program. The services for pregnant women, infants and toddlers are based at Darden and Edelman Centers. ACHR's EHS program began in 1998 with a unique combination of center based and home based models. The center based model, which serves children in a multi-age grouping with one teacher and four children, is available to mothers who are working or in school. The home based model is available to mothers who are at home with their children or who have alternate care arrangements for their babies and toddlers. In addition to visiting participants in their homes, Home Visitors work with pregnant teens and new teen mothers at six high schools in Lee and Russell Counties.

Early Head Start has an income guideline which can be adjusted for children who have special needs.

Key Benefits

	Care provided in groups of four children at Darden or Edelman Centers for children of mothers who work or who are in school.
	In center services use a multi-age group model, which means that children from one family can stay together, children can learn from one another, and there is less waiting for a slot in the appropriate age group.
	Visits provided weekly in the home with non-working mothers of infants and toddlers, and for those who have child care. These participants and their children are invited to the center every other week for socialization activities. Visits for participants who are pregnant are less frequent.
	Services provided to pregnant teens and teen mothers in cooperation with the local schools.
	High/Scope Curriculum Approach used as foundation, along with other curricula.
	Linkage to additional services such as health care and special services.
	Opportunity for parents to serve on parent committees or policy-making committees and to gain experience in advocacy.

To learn more about the program or to enroll a child, contact our office at (334) 821-8336.

To learn more about Early Head Start nationwide, go to http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/ehs_tkit1.htm

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Key Benefits

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