Head Start
Head Start is a federally funded early childhood education program that promotes school readiness for children from low-income families. At the YMCA of Frederick County, we offer Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) Preschool programs for eligible families, with comprehensive services that support early learning, family well-being, and school readiness.
- Eligible children living in Frederick County receive a scholarship to attend the programs.
- Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks are provided.
- Families receive a scholarship YMCA membership, while their child is enrolled in the program.
If you have questions about the program, please call 301-378-9140 for more information.
When applying for the program, please provide all of the necessary information as requested on the application. After you submit your application, we will review it for eligibility and contact you once your application has been processed.
Departments and Services
At the YMCA Head Start program, a team of caring professionals is here to support children and families every step of the way. Our departments work collaboratively to provide high-quality education, health and nutrition services, family support, transportation, and specialized resources that help children build a strong foundation for lifelong success.
Teaching Staff (Lead Teacher, Teacher Assistant, Aide)
The teaching staff plans and delivers age-appropriate lessons, tailors activities to individual needs, and creates a safe, stimulating classroom environment that promotes early development and learning.
Education Manager
Facilitates the implementation of an early childhood education curriculum and provides educational resources for staff and parents, and ensures compliance with performance standards and recognized best practices in the field of early childhood education.
Family Services
Support families by conducting at least two home visits per school year, offering additional visits as needed. They provide community resources, help parents build protective factors, assist with goal setting, connect families to health and social services, and foster strong parent-child relationships to support children’s development.
Health & Nutrition Manager
Oversees health screenings, ensures nutritious meals are provided, monitors children’s growth and development. They work with families to promote healthy habits and coordinate with health services to support children’s well-being.
Transportation Team
Ensures safe transportation by maintaining vehicles, conducting safety checks, and managing bus routes. They facilitate smooth pick-up and drop-off routines, prioritize children’s safety during transit, and provide families with necessary transportation information and support.
Behavior, Mental Health and Disabilities Specialist
Supports children’s development by assessing and addressing behavioral, mental health, and disability-related needs. They collaborate with families and educators to create Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs), ensuring tailored support. Specialists also promote school readiness by implementing strategies that enhance children’s social-emotional skills and readiness for educational success.
Program Calendar
Stay connected with important dates, events, and program activities throughout the year. Our program calendar helps families plan ahead and stay informed about school schedules, special events, holidays, and other important updates.
Weekly Menu
We are committed to providing nutritious meals that support your child’s growth and development. Check our weekly menu to see the healthy breakfast, lunch, and snack options being served each day and stay informed about your child’s nutrition while in our care.
Our Mission
The Mission of the YMCA of Frederick County Head Start program (EHS & HS) is to provide families of limited income with comprehensive services promoting school readiness and family engagement through a variety of partnerships to meet the needs of the Frederick Community.
Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development.
Our Vision
The YMCA of Frederick County Head Start program believes in strengthening our diverse community by empowering families, staff and partners to successfully advocate for children and families to reach their fullest potential for a better future.
PBIS
(Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)
Four program-wide expectations have been adopted to promote consistency in messaging for all children, staff and families:
- “Bee” Responsible
- “Bee” Respectful
- “Bee” Caring
- “Bee” Safe
The PBIS Implementation team uses the honeybee to represent expectations in the Head Start program, which aligns with the YMCA’s core values. Using a team-based approach, the mission of the PBIS leadership team is to consistently build positive, safe, and enriching environments and relationships with our Head Start students, families, staff and community.
The YMCA of Frederick County Head Start program has implemented a program-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports plan. This plan follows the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) Early Childhood Program-Wide PBS Benchmarks of Quality. The PBIS Leadership team consists of all Head Start staff and you the parents. All Head Start staff receive initial training on The Pyramid Model, the tool used to implement PBIS, and ongoing training, discussions, feedback and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Early Head Start: Serves children born 6 weeks through 36 months of age. Early Head Start eligibility is based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Families must earn below the income guidelines for their household size. Families also can qualify if they receive public assistance (SNAP,TANF, SSI), are experiencing homelessness, or if the child is in foster care.
- Child’s Proof of Age (Birth Certificate or Passport)
- Income Verification for the previous 12 months (W-2 or 1040 Form or Pay Stubs or Supplemental Security Income or Temporary Cash Assistance benefit statement letter)
- Proof of residency in Frederick County (Lease or utility bill with your name listed on it and dated within the last 30 days)
- Full-day, high-quality education.
- Early Head Start, Head Start to income eligible children and their families.
- Hearing, vision, and dental screenings.
- Breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.
- Intervention services for children.
- Family-Centered support services.
- Family engagement services and events.
- Reside in Frederick County
- Family income at or below the federal poverty guidelines
- Family is McKinney-Vento verified (homelessness)
- Family receives TCA, SNAP or SSI
- Child is Foster child
