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Child Care and Early Childhood Development Unit
Head Start – State Collaboration Office (HSSCO)
April 2008
The Head Start program is a Federal program for preschool children from
low-income families. It is administered by local school districts or non-profit
agencies throughout the United States. Proof of income, a birth certificate
and shot records are needed to apply.Families whose income is below 100 percent of the poverty line have first priority for the Head Start program. Families whose income is below 130 percent of the poverty line have second priority. Also, all preschool children from families receiving public assistance (TAF or SSI), homeless and foster families are eligible. To find out more about this federal program and for local area locations, go to For Parents. For additional information on this program go to www.ksheadstart.com and www.r7hsa.com .
Every state has a Head Start-State Collaboration Office. The Governor of each state chooses which state agency houses this office. In Kansas, the HSSCO is located in the Social & Rehabilitation Services (SRS) central office. Congress and the Office of Head Start have chosen the following eight priority areas:
- Child Care: Make full-working-day and full calendar
year services available to children
- Health Care: Mental health care, oral health, medical
homes, and obesity
- Welfare: Child welfare services, child protective
services, services provided for children in foster care, and children
referred to Head Start programs by child welfare agencies
- Children with disabilities: Promote inclusion for
infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in all settings
- Community Service Activities: Include promotion of
partnerships between Head Start agencies, schools, law enforcement,
relevant community-based organizations, and substance abuse and mental
health treatment agencies. Intended to strengthen family and community
environments and to reduce the impact on child development of substance
abuse, child abuse, domestic violence and other high-risk behaviors
that compromise healthy development.
- Services to Homeless Children: Assist Head Start
programs in recruiting homeless and foster children
- Family Literacy Services: Promote literacy in the
home, child care, classroom, and community, including programs for English
Language Learners
- Education: Reading readiness programs, including such programs offered by public and school libraries, services offered by museums, other early childhood education and development for limited English proficient (LEP) children, partnerships to promote inclusion of more books in Head Start classrooms, professional development.
For other services or to find the Social and Rehabilitation
Office or an Access Point nearest you,
use the links at the end of this page.
Page Updated: May 21, 2008