Head Start
Long Island Head Start provides high-quality early childhood education that supports children's growth in all areas of development. Our research-based curriculum, including Creative Curriculum, Second Step, and Color Me Healthy, supports social and emotional skills, language and literacy, math and science, and physical health. Through engaging, play-based experiences, we foster curiosity, problem-solving, and school readiness, setting the foundation for lifelong learning. We believe parents are a child’s first and most important teachers. By fostering strong partnerships between parents and educators, we ensure learning extends beyond the classroom and into the home, supporting each child's holistic growth.
Our Program Emphasizes:
- Individualized Learning – Tailoring instruction to meet each child’s unique developmental needs.
- Comprehensive Skill Development – Building language, literacy, math, science, and social-emotional skills through hands-on exploration.
- Health & Play-Based and Structured Learning – Balancing purposeful play with guided activities to inspire curiosity and critical thinking.
- Supportive Learning Environment – Creating a safe, inclusive space where children develop confidence, independence, and a love for learning.
Who Is Eligible to Participate in Head Start?
Children from birth to age five who are from families with incomes below the poverty guidelines are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services. Children from homeless families, and families receiving public assistance such as TANF or SSI are also eligible. Foster children are eligible regardless of their foster family’s income. The HHS Poverty Guidelines. (https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines)
Early Head Start
Long Island Head Start also offers the Early Head Start (EHS) program. The EHS Program is for children ages birth to 3. Just like the Head Start Program for preschoolers, Early Head Start is available at no cost to eligible, at-risk, and low-income families. Long Island Head Start offers the EHS program in four New York State daycare-licensed locations in Suffolk County. Infants and toddlers enrolled in the EHS Program receive comprehensive care, including nutritious meals, developmental activities, and a safe, nurturing environment to support their growth and well-being throughout the day.
Eligibility for Children with Diagnosed Disabilities
If your child has a diagnosed disability and has an Individual Education Plan-IEP that affects their learning ability, your child may qualify for enrollment in Head Start regardless of household income.
Early Head Start - Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CCP)
Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships
The EHS-CCP program brings together the strengths of child care and Early Head Start programs. Child care centers and family child care providers respond to the needs of working families by offering flexible and convenient full-day/full-year services. In addition, child care providers have experience providing care that is strongly grounded in the cultural, linguistic, and social needs of the families and their local communities. Through the EHS-CCP program, child care centers and family child care providers have access to resources to provide the comprehensive services needed to support better outcomes for the nation's most vulnerable children. Early Head Start is a research-based program that emphasizes the importance of responsive and caring relationships to support the optimal development of infants and toddlers. EHS-CCP provides comprehensive family-centered services that adhere to the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) to support high-quality learning environments. Integrating Early Head Start comprehensive services and resources into the array of traditional child care and family child care settings creates new opportunities to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, and their families.
Families must meet income and program eligibility criteria to be eligible for a child care subsidy. All individuals applying for a child care subsidy must complete an application and submit supporting documentation with their Family Service Worker. Families must meet income and program eligibility criteria to be eligible for a child care subsidy.
CLICK HERE for more information about Suffolk County’s subsidized child care program including:
Descriptions of the program and income eligibility criteria. Answers to frequently asked questions. A Child Care Eligibility Wizard where you can quickly check YOUR family’s program and income eligibility. Links to the child care application, instructions for completing the application and additional forms that may be required based on your family’s circumstances.
Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships
Alicia’s Day Care
386 Rowlinson Drive
Shirley, NY 11967
Phone (631) 772-2880
Contact: Alicia Ortiz, DCC Director/Owner
Bay Shore Day Care & Preschool
107 East Main Street
Bay Shore NY 11706
Phone (631) 647-4326
Contact: Sandra Tisnado, DCC Director/Owner
Marks of Excellence Child Care
455 Albany Ave
Amityville, NY 11701
Phone (631) 789-0800
Contact: Alicia Marks, DCC Director/Owner
New Beginnings Day Care
132 Hilltop Drive
Brentwood, NY 11717
Phone (631) 404-0797
Contact: Tracy Harvey, DCC Director/Owner
Story Book Hollow Children's Academy
38 Adirondack Drive
Selden, NY 11784
Phone (631) 698-5900
Contact: Nadine Boudreau, DCC Director/Owner
Long Island Head Start
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