Phone: 501-624-5724
2254 Albert Pike Road
Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913

Head Start

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Benefits
Eligibility

What is Head Start?

Head Start programs support children’s growth from birth to age 5 through services centered around early learning and development, health, and family well-being. Head Start staff actively engage parents, recognizing family participation throughout the program as key to strong child outcomes.

Head Start services are available at no cost to children ages birth to 5 for eligible families.

To learn about CSO's Early Head Start programs for children six months to two years please press the button below.
Early Head Start

about CSO Head Start

CSO serves families with their direct Head Start and Early Head Start centers in Garland and Jefferson Counties as well as partner centers throughout Arkansas.
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Early Head Start
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Locations

Head Start preschool services work with children ages 3 to 5 and their families. Early Head Start services work with families that have children ages birth to 3, and many also serve expectant families.

Programs deliver child development services in center-based, home-based, or family child care settings.

Head Start programs strive to:
  • Build strong relationships as the foundational driver for early learning.
  • Engage families in their child’s learning and recognizing parents as a child’s first and most influential teacher.
  • Implement effective practices to promote children’s growth in five key domains (approaches to learning, social and emotional development, language and literacy, cognition, and physical development).
  • Encourage learning through play, creative expression, and guided activities with schedules and lesson plans that include the cultural and language heritage of each child and family in relevant ways.
  • Create welcoming learning environments in indoor and outdoor settings that are well-organized and safe.
  • Conduct ongoing screenings and assessments to guarantee each child is making progress.
  • Collaborate with parents and community agencies when further assessment is needed.

Mental and physical health is important at CSO Head Starts. At CSO Head Starts we:
  • Engage all children in both indoor and outdoor physical activity .
  • Serve breakfast, lunch, and snacks that are healthy and nutritious .
  • Ensure children receive medical, dental, hearing, vision, and behavioral screening .
  • Make sure children brush their teeth after meals; promote oral health and hygiene .
  • Help families understand and support their child’s health and behavioral health needs.
  • Assist with mental health services for children and families, as needed.
  • Build resilience to help children and families heal from traumatic experiences or events and overwhelming situations

CSO Head Starts assist entire families. We:
  • Offer parenting support and strategies.
  • Support parental health and links to community services during pregnancy .
  • Connect families to community and federal assistance.
  • Help families identify and reach their goals and dreams, including those related to finances and economic mobility , housing, employment, and education.
  • Provide a career pathway in early care and education — about 22% of program staff are current or former Head Start parents.

To encourage families to stay engaged in their children's Head Start journeys, at CSO we:
  • Invite parents to share information and insights about their child.
  • Celebrate the role of fathers and male caregivers through father engagement .
  • Engage parents as their child’s lifelong advocate.
  • Welcome parents to offer ways to improve children and families’ experiences in the program, including through leadership roles on the Policy Council .
  • Support child and family transitions to the next step in Head Start, kindergarten, or another early childhood program.

Since 1965, Head Start programs have reached more than 38 million children and their families.

Children enrolled in Head Start programs are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college; have improved social, emotional, and behavioral development; and are better prepared to be parents themselves than similar children who do not attend the program.

Children enrolled in Early Head Start programs have significantly fewer child welfare encounters related to sexual or physical abuse between the ages of 5 and 9 than those who don’t attend.

Research consistently shows a broad array of benefits for children at the end of their Head Start enrollment. While these benefits may appear to diminish in the early grades, economic benefits emerge as children become adults.

The Head Start program’s two-generation design — coupled with research-based, high-quality comprehensive services — has the power to change children’s outcomes.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at 501-624-5724 or email Jackson.G@csoarkansas.org

Benefits

CSO is proud to offer our STEAM program to our Head Start students.

STEAM Education is an innovative approach that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics as interconnected pathways for student learning. Here’s what you need to know:

Guiding Inquiry and Critical Thinking: STEAM uses these disciplines to guide student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. It encourages students to explore real-world problems and engage in creative problem-solving.

Learn more about our STEAM program by clicking the button below.
STEAM

CSO offers both Head Start and Early Head Start opportunities for physical education. Students can express themselves through dance and enjoy the fun of tumbling. These activities help students discover their love for these arts early on, potentially inspiring them to pursue these interests after their Head Start journey. Why physical education is important for young children: Promotes Physical Health
  • Encourages regular exercise, reducing the risk of childhood obesity.
  • Enhances motor skills and overall physical development.
  • Builds a foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
Boosts Mental Health
  • Reduces stress and anxiety through physical activity.
  • Improves mood and energy levels.
  • Enhances focus and cognitive function.
Develops Social Skills
  • Encourages teamwork and cooperation.
  • Helps children learn to follow rules and take turns.
  • Fosters friendships through group activities.
Supports Academic Learning
  • Physical activity can improve concentration and classroom behavior.
  • Movement-based learning can enhance memory and understanding.
  • Integrates fun with learning through activities like dance and tumbling.

CSO offers both Head Start and Early Head Start opportunities for physical education. Students can express themselves through dance and enjoy the fun of tumbling. These activities help students discover their love for these arts early on, potentially inspiring them to pursue these interests after their Head Start journey.

Why physical education is important for young children:

Promotes Physical Health
  • Encourages regular exercise, reducing the risk of childhood obesity.
  • Enhances motor skills and overall physical development.
  • Builds a foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
Supports Academic Learning
  • Physical activity can improve concentration and classroom behavior.
  • Movement-based learning can enhance memory and understanding.
  • Integrates fun with learning through activities like dance and tumbling.
Young boy dancing in Pat Longinotti gym. Boosts Mental Health
  • Reduces stress and anxiety through physical activity.
  • Improves mood and energy levels.
  • Enhances focus and cognitive function.
Develops Social Skills
  • Encourages teamwork and cooperation.
  • Helps children learn to follow rules and take turns.
  • Fosters friendships through group activities.

A special guest, dressed in all pink, reads to CSO Head Start students in the library at CSO's Pat Longinotti center.
CSO Head Start is dedicated to building strong literacy foundations for our students. We achieve this by engaging them with books and visual aids in their classrooms and hosting regular storytime sessions, often featuring special guests, at all our locations. Our Pat Longinotti Head Start center in Hot Springs features its own dedicated library stocked with a wide selection of books. This library offers a comfortable and contained environment where the students can engage with classmates and explore the many age-appropriate books available.
A special guest, dressed in all pink, reads to CSO Head Start students in the library at CSO's Pat Longinotti center.
Head Start is dedicated to building strong literacy foundations for our students. We achieve this by engaging them with books and visual aids in their classrooms and hosting regular storytime sessions, often featuring special guests, at all our locations.

Our Pat Longinotti Head Start center in Hot Springs features its own dedicated library stocked with a wide selection of books. This library offers a comfortable and contained environment where the students can engage with classmates and explore the many age-appropriate books available.

A young boy looks at his fingertips which have purple and pink paint covering them.

CSO Head Start and Early Head Start centers combine creative expression and learning for children to have a more holistic experience when it comes to their education. Our children learn about and are encouraged to express themselves through art by teachers, special guests other methods. Also, the "A" in STEAM stands for art and many of our STEAM team's lesson incorporate art to teach.

CSO Head Start and Early Head Start centers combine creative expression and learning for children to have a more holistic experience when it comes to their education. Our children learn about and are encouraged to express themselves through art by teachers, special guests other methods. Also, the "A" in STEAM stands for art and many of our STEAM team's lesson incorporate art to teach.
A young boy looks at his fingertips which have purple and pink paint covering them.

Income Eligibility

FAMILY SIZE Annual Income 100% FPL Annual Income 130% FPL
1 $15,060 $19,578
2 $20,440 $26,572
3 $25,820 $33,566
4 $31,200 $40,560
5 $36,580 $47,554
6 $41,960 $54,548
7 $47,340 $61,542
8 $52,720 $68,538
Each additional family member: + $5,380 + $6,994

Income eligibility calculator

Annual Income 100% FPL
$15,060
Annual Income 130% FPL
$19,578
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