Eligibility & Benefits
Early Head Start and Head Start programs are free to eligible children.
Who is eligible for services?
Montana’s 22 Head Start and Early Head Start programs have unique programming, designed to best serve needs in their communities. The Office of Head Start, through the Head Start Action of 2007 and Head Start performance Standards has some eligibility guidelines with the goal to develop and implement a system that ensures each program identifies and enrolls the children and families with the greatest need for Head Start services.
Benefits of the program include:
Great early learning that matches the development of the child
Nutritious food and help accessing any needed health services
Tailored support for the child and family to help every child have the ability to reach their potential
Priorities for Enrollment:
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Age
Children from birth to thirty-six months old and pregnant women can qualify for Early Head Start. Children ages three to five can qualify for Head Start programs.
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Household Income.
Children living in households with total income below federal poverty level.
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Public Assistance.
Families that receive public assistance such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) of SSI (Supplemental Security Income) are automatically eligible for the program.
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Foster Care.
Children in foster care are automatically eligible for the program.
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Homelessness.
Children experiencing homelessness are automatically eligible for the program.
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Children with Special Needs.
Programs have a mission to serve children with disabilities or special needs and programs take this into strong consideration during enrollment.
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Other
Other needs that are considered include bilingual families, medically underserved communities, and other special factors. All families with age eligible children are encouraged to apply because programs try to prioritize and accommodate the specific needs of their community.