ECS4Kids

Head Start is a free program dedicated to building school readiness for children and increasing parental knowledge about growth and development for low-income families. ECS4Kids operates over 30 Head Start centers and provides services to thousands of pregnant women and children across Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Lake, Levy, Marion and Nassau counties.

ECS4Kids’ Head Start program provides full-day, center-based early learning for children aged 3-5. The Early Head Start Program provides full-day, year-round services to pregnant women and children birth to 3 years of age in both center-based and home-based settings.

Our programs foster school readiness by offering a holistic approach that includes early childhood education, health screenings, mental health support, nutrition, and services for children with disabilities. All children receive developmental screenings for health, dental, vision, and hearing, while also providing daily nutritious meals and snacks.

At ECS4Kids, we believe in supporting the entire family. The program also provides additional family supports, such as financial and health literacy workshops, parenting skills training, and targeted attention on meeting specialized needs in regard to children with disabilities, behavioral challenges, and health concerns. Parents are their children’s first teachers, and we encourage them to take an active role in their child’s learning, both in the classroom and through involvement in our programs.