Head Start is a free classroom program for 3- and 4-year-olds from low-income families in Saratoga County. Our classrooms are state-licensed daycare centers. Our teachers have New York State certification.

Head Start

Why Choose Head Start

  • Children receive free breakfast and lunch daily

  • Children receive medical, dental, and developmental screenings

  • Families gain access to other LifeWorks programs and community resources

  • Parents and guardians receive support and access to adult education workshops

  • Parents and guardians make program decisions through the Head Start Policy Council

  • Parents and guardians have volunteer and employment opportunities through Head Start—in fact, 40% of our staff are former Head Start students or parents

What Do Head Start Kids Grow Up to Be?

When a child is ready to start school, they have a better chance of succeeding. That means a better chance of graduating high school and a better chance of going to college or trade school. So, Head Start kids grow up to be anything they want to be!

Learning and Development

Head Start helps kids build:

  • Social skills

  • Healthy emotions

  • Speaking and reading skills

  • Math and science knowledge

  • A relationship with their family’s culture and language

  • A smooth transition to kindergarten

Health

At Head Start, kids receive:

  • Indoor and outdoor learning opportunities

  • Help coping with the effects of trauma, as needed

  • Mental health support, as needed

Family Well-Being

Head Start gives parents and families help with programs for:

  • Housing stability

  • Strengthening parent-child relationships

  • Financial security

  • Continued education

Does My Child Qualify for Head Start?

Are you a pregnant woman or do you have an infant, toddler or preschooler? Is your total income less than the federal poverty level or do you receive Food Stamps? If you answered yes to both questions, your child qualifies for Head Start. So do:

  • All children in foster care

  • All homeless children

  • All children whose families get SNAP, TANF or SSI assistance

LifeWorks Serves Saratoga County

You must live in a school district we serve:

  • Ballston Spa

  • Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake

  • Corinth

  • Mechanicville

  • Saratoga Springs

  • Shenendehowa

  • Schuylerville

  • South Glens Falls

  • Waterford-Halfmoon

What If We Don’t Qualify?

Brightside Up offers other options for early childhood education in the Capital Region.

Apply

Get started by filling out an initial application online.

A family advocate will be in touch soon to schedule an appointment to finish the application process. At that appointment, you will need to provide:

  • Proof of age (child’s birth certificate or other official document verifying the child’s birth date)

  • Proof of income (pay stubs, DHS budget sheet, Form 1040 tax return, 6 months of unemployment with W-2 or SSI statements)

Once enrolled, you will need to provide:

  • Child’s up-to-date immunization records

  • Physical exam (including lead and hematocrit) and dental exam records

  • Other requested supporting documents

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