Illinois Action for Children Awarded Federal Head Start Grant – Year-Round Early Childhood Programs Serving South Suburbs

Chicago – Illinois Action for Children has been awarded a $6.4 million federal grant by the Department of Health and Human Services to provide comprehensive Head Start and Early Head Start services in the South Suburbs of Cook County.

“This is an incredible opportunity for Illinois Action for Children to build upon our promise to children and their families through our work with Head Start and Early Head Start,” said Maria Whelan, President & CEO of Illinois Action for Children. “There is an undeniable need for more early childhood opportunities in the South Suburbs that will be filled by these programs.”

Through more than 45 years as an early care and education advocate and provider, Illinois Action for Children is uniquely qualified to provide the prenatal care and support, infant and toddler development, preschool education, and school readiness that are all hallmarks of Head Start and Early Head Start.

Specifically, this grant allows Illinois Action for Children to provide Head Start and Early Head Start Services to economically-disadvantaged and high-risk families as Illinois Action for Children will have sites located in Dolton, Harvey, Ford Heights, and Chicago Heights.

This addition of new Head Start and Early Head Start programs builds upon the innovative direct service early education model that Illinois Action for Children is already engaged in – most notably, our Community Connections Preschool model. The Community Connections program links home-based child care providers with center-based Preschool for All classroom programs for their 3- and
4-year-olds.

All four Illinois Action for Children Head Start locations are now enrolling children.

Illinois Action for Children’s Head Start Locations:

Chicago Heights (Prairie State College Campus)
202 S. Halsted St.
Chicago Heights, IL 60411

Ford Heights
1055 Berkeley Avenue
Ford Heights, IL 60411

Harvey
14701 Wallace Avenue
Harvey, IL 60426

Dolton
729 Engle
Dolton, IL 60419

 

About Head Start

Since the summer of 1965, more than 45 million children and their families have benefitted from Head Start’s comprehensive services which include quality early childhood development programming and robust family support strategies that focus on providing children an opportunity for success in school and in life.

Head Start services are delivered by about 1,700 public and private nonprofit and for-profit agencies. Head Start agencies design services for children and families that meet the needs of their local community and follow the Head Start Performance Standards.

About Illinois Action for Children

Illinois Action for Children is a state and national leader in the early care and education community. Our outreach and work with low-income, hard-to-reach families, has led us to ensure that early care and education, and other opportunities, are accessible to the children most in need.

To learn more about Head Start and Early head Start, visit www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs.