Meet Larissa and her daughter Zenaida. They receive Early Head Start services at the Vistas Nuevas Center in southwest Detroit. Early Head Start is a program that begins with support for the expecting mother and father and continues through the child’s third birthday when traditional Head Start preschool begins. These services are critical because we know that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life—from pregnancy through their second birthday—is the critical window of time that sets the stage for intellectual development and lifelong health.
Early Head Start is now available in Detroit thanks to increased federal investment as well as funding from a collaboration of eight foundations, including the Community Foundation. The Collaborative has invested more than $4.9 million in Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Detroit to improve outcomes and boost participation. On behalf of the Collaborative, the Community Foundation developed a website, DetroitHeadStart.com, that helps parents easily find and sign up for the closest Head Start program. Currently, 84% percent of the available Head Start slots are filled by Detroit children, thanks to this robust enrollment effort.
For more information about early childhood education and Head Start, contact:
Kamilah Henderson
Program Officer
313.961.6675, ext. 124