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 30 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 homes, 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
Services/Program Information
Jobs/Volunteering
Family Child Care Options
Related Services
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:
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 US 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:
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Meals will be provided at these centers:
For further information, contact Jan Stewart, Head-Start Coordinator, 703-799-8809, 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.