Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council

Head Start and Early Head Start are FREE federally funded programs for low-income pregnant women and children birth to age 5. Saratoga County EOC Head Start serves 434 children and pregnant women through out Saratoga County.

What do children do at Head Start?
Children get ready for kindergarten by learning to get along with others as they develop reading language and math skills.

How are services delivered?
Preschool classrooms: 3 and 4 year old children participate in full day NYS Daycare licensed classrooms including integrated classrooms for children with special needs and UPK – Universal Prekindergarten classrooms for children who will be attending kindergarten in the next year. Many classrooms are open during the summer.

Infant and Toddler Rooms: Infants or toddlers participate in a variety of activities in a safe nurturing NYS Daycare licensed room. Currently we operate a toddler room at the Corinth YMCA and an infant/toddler mixed age room at Ballston Spa High School.

Home-based services:
Parents and children participate in weekly home visits and regularly scheduled group activities called PACTs (Parents and Children Together). Family Educators work with parents to achieve goals they have set for their children and themselves.

What else do I need to know?
Head Start offers:

• Medical dental health developmental and behavioral screenings for all children.
• Nutritious meals and snacks.
• Disability services for children.
• Parenting support adult education workshops and referrals to community resources.
• Limited transportation services to parents and children.
• Volunteer and employment opportunities for parents.
• Participation in program decision making through volunteer opportunities on Policy Council and Family Committees.

What are eligibility requirements?
Eligibility:

• Family income must be at or below federal poverty guidelines.*
• Families must consist of a pregnant woman and/or children from birth to age 5.
• Families must live in one of our serving areas which are Ballston Spa Clifton Park Corinth Galway Mechanicville Saratoga Stillwater Schuylerville South Glens Falls and Waterford. Serving areas follow local school district boundaries.

*10% of children may be over-income but have special needs/circumstances that impact their well-being. This facility is authorized to administer medications

Child Ages:

3 weeks - 5 years

Licenses & Accreditations:

New York State Office of Children & Family Services -