Early Head Start Goals.

The overarching goals of Early Head Start focus on the healthy cognitive, physical, social and emotional development of infants and toddlers. Research on early brain development has demonstrated that, to thrive, children from birth to age three need a variety of positive learning experiences provided in a secure and loving environment. In recognition that parents are the primary educators of their children, EHS programs are designed to work with families to ensure that the developmental needs of each child are met.

  • To provide safe and developmentally enriching caregiving and environments which promote the physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth of infants and toddlers and prepare them for future growth and development.

  • To support parents, both mothers and fathers, in their role as primary caregivers and educators of their children.

  • To support families in meeting personal goals and achieving self-sufficiency across a wide variety of domains.

  • To mobilize communities to provide the resources and environment necessary to ensure a comprehensive, integrated array of services and support families and to foster the systems change necessary to summon forth the guiding vision of thei initiative.

  • To ensure the provisions of high quality responsive services to families with infants and toddlers through the development of highly trained, caring and adequately compensated program staff.

Curriculum Development

Ongoing assessment of each child’s skills and behaviors plays a key role in developing a curriculum that is age-appropriate, culturally sensitive and tailored to meet his or her specific needs. Parents play an active role in the assessment process. Their observations, ideas and concerns about their children contribute substantively to the assessment, and their involvement helps to ensure that the curriculum and goals planned for the child are appropriate within the context of family and culture.

Support

In providing services to infants and toddlers, EHS must support the physical, social, emotional, cognitive and language development of each child. Services that must be provided directly or through referral include:

  • Early education services in a range of developmentally appropriate settings.
  • Home visits, especially for families with newborns.
  • Parent education and parent-child activities.
  • Comprehensive health and mental health services.
  • High-quality child care services, provided directly or in collaboration with community child care providers.

Early Head Start hours:
7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Thoughts from our families …

“The Early Head Start program has helped me grow as a mother to become more engaged with my child.”

“My children and I LOVE Brazoria County Head Start.”

MISSION.

The mission of the Early Head Start Program (EHS) is to promote and enhance the development of very young children, and promote healthy family functioning.

Brazoria County serves 44 clients at our Angleton, Brazoria, Lake Jackson and locations.