Editing Head Start (program) (section)

== Services and programs ==
Head Start serves over 1 million children and their families each year in urban and rural areas in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories. Related health services include  health screenings and check-ups, [[eye examination]]s and dental check-ups. Meals and snacks are also provided, which can help ease financial pressure on families and improve children's diets. Family advocates assist parents in accessing community resources. All services are specific to each family's culture and experience. Head Start programs also seek to support children's social emotional development.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Programs and services include:{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
* Early Head Start promotes healthy prenatal outcomes, healthy families, as well as infant and toddler development beginning as early as birth.
* Head Start helps to create healthy development and early childhood education in low-income children ages three to five.
* Family and Community Partnerships engage and support parents to identify and meet their own goals, nurture their children, and advocate for communities that support children and families.
* Migrant and Seasonal services are for children of migrant and seasonal farm workers. Service hours are longer and programs extend for fewer months than traditional Head Start.
* Head Start serves indigenous Americans with centers on reservations and in urban communities.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/| title = The Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/states/aian |title=American Indian and Alaska Native |access-date=March 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317054838/https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/states/aian |archive-date=March 17, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Homeless children were included explicitly as subjects with the 2007 re-authorization.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.naehcy.org | title = NAEHCY}}</ref> Programs must identify and provide services to homeless children of all ages within a reasonable period. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg116.html|title=Part C - Homeless Education|website=US Department of Education}}</ref> also requires access to early childhood education such as Head Start for homeless children and families.