SPCAA Head Start promotes the school readiness of infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children from families with low income. SPCAA Head Start services are provided in a variety of settings including our site-base centers, partner independent school districts, and through our home based instruction inside children's own homes. Our Early Head Start and Head Start programs also engage parents or other key family members in positive relationships, with a focus on family well-being. Parents participate in leadership roles, including having a say in SPCAA Head Start program operations.

SPCAA Head Start supports children's growth in a positive learning environment through a variety of services, which include:

• Early learning and development: Children's readiness for school and beyond is fostered through individualized learning experiences. Through relationships with adults, play, and planned and spontaneous instruction, children grow in many aspects of development. These include social skills, emotional well-being, language and literacy skills, mathematics, and science concepts. Early learning experiences also include the cultural and language heritage of each child and family in relevant ways. Parents, including grandparents, foster parents, and other primary caregivers, are recognized as children's first and most influential teachers. Their knowledge of their children is central to each child's individualized approach. Additionally, SPCAA Head Start works with families, school districts, and other entities to facilitate a smooth transition to kindergarten for each child.
• Health: Health and physical development are crucial for early learning opportunities that require children to fully explore and experience their environment. SPCAA Head Start provides safe and healthy learning experiences indoors and outdoors. All children receive health screenings and nutritious meals, and programs connect families with medical, dental, and mental health services to ensure children are receiving the care and attention they need. Children receive support for building resiliency to cope with possible adverse effects of trauma. Families also receive mental health consultation focused on each child's needs.
• Family well-being: Parents and families are offered program services to support family well-being and to achieve family goals, such as housing stability, continued education, and financial security. SPCAA Head Start supports and strengthens parent-child relationships and engages families in the learning and development of their child.

SPCAA Head Start is available at no cost to children ages birth to 5 from families with low income. Families and children experiencing homelessness, and children in the foster care system are also eligible. Additionally, SPCAA Head Start services are available to children with disabilities and other special needs.

SPCAA Head Start includes several different program types reflecting the needs of specific populations within the communities we serve. These include:

• SPCAA Head Start
  • Head Start programs promote the school readiness of children ages 3 to 5. Most of these programs are based in centers. In other programs, children and families may receive services from educators and family service staff who regularly make home visits.
• SPCAA Early Head Start (EHS)
  • Infants, toddlers, and expectant families are served through SPCAA Early Head Start. SPCAA Early Head Start is available to the family until the child turns 3 years old and is ready to transition into SPCAA Head Start. Services to expectant families, including prenatal support and follow-up, are also provided by the SPCAA Early Head Start. SPCAA Early Head Start Home Based is provided in a child's own home through weekly home visits that support the child's development and family's own goals. SPCAA Early Head Start is also located located in centers that provide full day programming for children. SPCAA Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships with the YWCA is additionally dedicated to offering Early Head Start services to eligible families within the childcare system in Lubbock, Texas.