Head Start and Early Head Start

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
703-324-8290 TTY 711
Pennino Building, 12011 Government Center Parkway, 9th Floor
Fairfax, VA 22035
Janet Stewart

Additional Information

Head Start was founded as part of Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty in 1965. Since then, Head Start has grown from an eight-week demonstration project to include full-day, full-year services and numerous program options. Head Start has served over 40 million children and their families in urban and rural areas in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories.

Programs/Delegates

The Federal Head Start and Early Head Start grant is awarded to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Fairfax County Public Schools and Higher Horizons are delegate agencies which manage and operate their individual programs. Services are provided in family child care provider homes and in classrooms.

Governance

The Policy Council and Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County share decision-making responsibility regarding program goals and plans, setting program policies and procedures, budget allocations and personnel functions. The Policy Council is a formal structure of Head Start program governance that provides parents and other community representatives with the responsibility and opportunity to participate in shared decision making.

The Board of Supervisors and Policy Council review and approve all major program reports and policies including personnel policies, financial policies, major program policies, grant applications, the financial audit, the self-assessment, the Program Information Report and the Community Assessment; as well as being active in program planning and monitoring.

Application and Eligibility

What are the ages for each center?

  • Early Head Start serves ages 0 - 3 and pregnant people.
  • Head Start serves ages 3 - 5. All programs serve both 3's and 4's but FCPS serves almost exclusively 4-year-olds.
     

What are the income guidelines? Am I considered low-income?

  • Head Start uses the federal poverty guidelines to determine eligibility.  We serve families with up to 130% of the poverty level; Fairfax County Public Schools serve families with up to 350% of the poverty level.

How long is the waitlist?

  • Waiting lists vary by program location. It can be as few as two children or as many as 200. Please call the program you are interested in for more information. It is important to submit your application early - typically between January and March - to be placed on the waiting list for the Fall session.

Services/Program Information

What kind of food will my child eat while in care?

I am a Family Services worker for a Head Start parent in "another county" and they are getting ready to move to FFX County. What is the process for this family to continue to receive services? Is there a "transfer" of files that could be done between Head Start offices?

  • Head Start guidelines vary between grantees even within the same state. Please contact us and we will assist you in referring the family to the correct program.

Jobs/Volunteering

How I can apply for Head Start jobs?

How can I volunteer for Head Start?

  • Call 703-820-2457 and ask for more information about current opportunities.

Do you offer professional development classes?

  • We do not offer professional development classes to the public, but we do provide professional development to staff and Early Head Start family child care providers. Please see the Institute for Early Learning for additional courses on Child Development.

Family Child Care Options

How can I become a provider for Head Start?

  • Contact our office at 703-324-8290.

What are the benefits of Family Child Care?

  • Early Head Start Family Child Care is a full day, full year program. This option offers a smaller group size for young children, and one consistent caregiver. Many family child care providers have extended hours to help working parents. There is also the possibility to have non EHS child in same environment as EHS child (mixed age groups). Just as we do for center-based Early Head Start, the Family Child Care option includes comprehensive services including screenings, health follow ups and support of family goals.

Related Services

How do I apply for SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) benefits?

How do I apply for Medicaid?

  • By phone: Call Cover Virginia (easiest and fastest) at 1-855-242-8282. This service can accommodate 160 languages and takes about 30 minutes (state sponsored insurance only).
  • By Internet: The online application takes about one hour (can be saved and returned to later). Multiple benefits can be applied for on this site (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.)
  • Paper application: Contact the local Fairfax County Department of Family Services at 703324-7500. Complete in seven steps.
  • In-person: Local Department of Family Services office will help in person.
  • Partnership for Healthier Kids, a group that will help families with application assistance, is available at 703-289-2072, TTY 711.

 See a complete list of FAQs.

The Office of Head Start (OHS) defines school readiness as children being ready for school, families ready to support their children's learning, and schools ready for the children who enter their doors.

Children's school readiness is linked to the skills identified in the five domains of the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework:

  • Language and Literacy.
  • Cognition and General Knowledge.
  • Approaches to Learning.
  • Physical Development and Health.
  • Social and Emotional Development.

Families are engaged in their children's learning and development in partnership with Head Start and Early Head Start to support the lifelong success of their child. The OHS Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework helps to identify strategies for engaging families in their children's school readiness and healthy development.

Schools become ready for children when Head Start programs, parents and schools work together to promote school readiness and engage families as their children make the transition to kindergarten.

Learn more about U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Head Start.

Fairfax County Head Start Program announces the sponsorship of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The same meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Snack) will be available at no separate charge to all participants at each CACFP facility. 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Meals will be provided at these centers:

  • Gum Springs Glen at 7839 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, Virginia 22306
    and
  • Gum Springs Children's Center at 8100 Fordson Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22306

For further information, contact Claudine Christie, Head Start Coordinator, 703-799-5760, TTY 711.

You may also contact the Virginia CACFP State Agency at the Virginia Department of Health Division of Community Nutrition for more information by calling: 1-877-618-7282 or emailing CACFP@vdh.virginia.gov.

 

View more information about our Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Fairfax Virtual Assistant