In 1995, the federal government established Early Head Start (EHS) to serve pregnant women and children from birth to age three.
The program was created in response to the mounting evidence that the earliest years are crucial for children’s physical, social, and emotional development, and builds on the Head Start program that began in 1965 to promote school readiness and to provide related services to preschoolers and their families.
Early Head Start is a comprehensive child development program, offering FREE linguistically and culturally appropriate health, education, and social services to eligible families that include a pregnant woman and/or children, ages 0-3. Child-centered services of the highest quality are provided in the family’s home or in a child care center setting. Early Head Start’s family-driven philosophy empowers parents to support and nurture their children, while meeting other critical social and
economic goals.
Maternity Care Coalition Early Head Start services are provided in three of our nine services to families program sites: Norristown, Pottstown, and South Philadelphia. We are partnered with the Montgomery Early Learning Centers for the administration of center-based services in Norristown and Pottstown.
Parents
Please visit our EHS Enrolled Families page to find EHS newsletters, calendars and forms. This is a password protected area of the website, so you will need to use the previously provided password.
Eligibility
Families expecting babies and/or with children under 3 are eligible to apply if their incomes are at or below the federal poverty guidelines and they live in one of the following zip codes:
South Philadelphia – 19145, 19146, 19147, and 19148
Montgomery County – 19401, 19403, 19405, 19406, 19407, 19408, 19428, 19462, 19464, and 19465
Families that have children with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Program Services
- Parent support and parent/child activities
- Full-day child care for infants and toddlers
- Activities in support of healthy child development
- Prenatal education and referrals to health services
- Support for children with disabilities and their families
- Help with job training, GED classes, health insurance, and public benefits
- Referrals for health care, social services, housing, and food assistance
Program Governance
Early Head Start programs are governed by the Maternity Care Coalition’s Board of Directors and the EHS Policy Council. The EHS Policy Council consists of parents and local community leaders who work with the EHS Director to make decisions about the program. Staff members work directly with families and create partnerships with community agencies to help families get the services they need.