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Enroll Your Child

Start Early directly operates and partners with Head Start agencies to deliver doula, home visiting and center-based programs in Chicago, Suburban Cook County and Waukegan Township.

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Our Directly Operated & Delegate Programs

Our directly operated and delegate programs deliver quality early learning and care that address the immediate needs of families, while also helping them plan for future success.

Learn more about Head Start and Early Head Start programs in your area.

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Chicago South Side

Children’s Home + Aid

Center-Based
Mitzi Freidheim Englewood Child & Family Center
Ages Served: Birth to Age 5
Location: 1701 West 63rd Street, Chicago, IL 60636
Service Areas: Englewood, New City, West Englewood

Phone: 773-645-2316
Email: ECSEnrollment@ChildrensHomeandAid.org
Website: ChildrensHomeandAid.org

Educare Chicago

Center-Based
Ages Served: 6 Weeks to Age 5
Location: 5044 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60615
Service Areas: Fuller Park (HS only), Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, New City (HS only), Oakland (HS only), Washington Park

Phone: 773-924-2334
Email: Info@EducareChicago.org
Website: EducareChicago.org

Family Focus

Center-Based
Ages Served: 6 Weeks to Age 5

Location: 5467 South University Avenue, Chicago, IL 60615
Service Areas: Hyde Park, Kenwood, Washington Park, Woodlawn

Phone: 773-643-0452 ext. 2419
Website: CCCSociety.org

Location: 7037 South Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, IL 60649
Service Areas: Englewood, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Washington Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

Phone: 773-363-3200

Healthy Parents & Babies

Doula & Home Visiting
Ages Served: Prenatal to Age 3
Location: 4859 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60615
Service Areas: Brighton Park, Grand Boulevard, Humboldt Park, Kenwood, McKinley Park, Washington Park

Email: HPB@StartEarly.org
Website: StartEarly.org/Babies

One Hope United

Center-Based
Ages Served: Ages 2-5
Service Areas: Bridgeport, New City

Bridgeport I
Location: 3053 South Normal Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616

Phone: 312-842-5566
Website: OneHopeUnited.org

Bridgeport II
Location: 514 West 31st Street, Chicago, IL 60616

Phone: 312-949-4015
Website: OneHopeUnited.org

SGA Youth & Family Services

Home Visiting
Ages Served: Birth to Age 3
Location: 3501 West 48th Place, Chicago, IL 60632
Service Areas: Brighton Park, McKinley Park, New City (HS only)

Phone: 773-321-9232
Website: SGAYouth.org

Chicago West Side

Casa Central

Center-Based
Ages Served: Birth to Age 5
Location: 1343 North California Avenue, Chicago IL 60622
Service Areas: Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, West Town, Wicker Park

Phone: 773-433-3530
Website: CasaCentral.org

Children’s Home + Aid

Home Visiting
Viva Child & Family Center
Ages Served: Birth to Age 3
Location: 100 North Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612
Service Areas: Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, West Town, Wicker Park

Phone: 773-476-6998
Website: ChildrensHomeandAid.org

Children’s Place Association

Home Visiting
Ages Served: 6 Weeks to Age 3
Location: 3059 West Augusta Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60622
Service Areas: Edgewater, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Rogers Park, West Town, Wicker Park, Uptown

Phone: 773-395-9193
Website: Childrens-Place.org

Center-Based
Ages Served: 6 Weeks to Age 5
Location: 1800 North Humboldt Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60647
Service Areas: Edgewater, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Rogers Park, West Town, Wicker Park, Uptown

Phone: 312-455-5200
Website: Childrens-Place.org

Marillac St. Vincent Family Services

Center-Based
Ages Served: Birth to Age 5

Marillac Social Center
Location: 212 South Francisco, Chicago, IL 60612
Service Areas: Austin, East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, Near North Side, West Garfield Park

Phone: 773-584-3290
Website: MarillacStVincent.org

Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School

Ages Served: Birth to Age 5
Service Areas: Archer Heights, Garfield Ridge, West Elsdon, West Lawn

Home-Based
Location: 4647 West 47th Street, Chicago, IL 60632

Center-Based
Location: 4942 West 44th Street, Chicago, IL 60638

Phone: 773-582-1100
Website: AGCChicago.org

Website: MarillacStVincent.org

El Hogar Del Niño

Home-Based
Location: 1710 South Loomis Street, Chicago, IL 60608

Phone: 312-890-7946
Website: ElHogarDelNino.org

Chicago North Side

Asian Human Services

Center-Based & Home Visiting
Ages Served: Birth to Age 5
Service Areas: Edgewater, Rogers Park, West Ridge and Uptown

Passages Early Learning Center
Location: 1643 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660

Phone: 773-433-3530
Website: AHSChicago.org

Marillac St. Vincent Family Services

Center-Based
Ages Served: Birth to Age 5

St. Vincent de Paul Center
Location: 2145 North Halsted, Chicago, IL 60614
Service Areas: Austin, East Garfield Park, Lincoln Park, Near North Side, West Garfield Park

Phone: 312-943-6776
Website: MarillacStVincent.org

South Suburban Cook County

First Step

Center-Based
Ages Served: 6 Weeks to Age 5
Location: 22025 Governors Highway, Richton Park, IL 60471
Service Areas: Beacon Hill (in Chicago Heights), Cook/Will County, Crete, Park Forest, Richton Park, Steger, University Park

Phone: 708-747-3000
Website: FirstStepofRichtonPark.com

Waukegan Township

One Hope United

Home Visiting & Center-Based
Ages Served: Birth to Age 5
Location: 2115 Ernie Krueger Circle, Waukegan, IL 60087
Service Area: Waukegan Township

Phone: 847-245-6800
Website: OneHopeUnited.org

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Program Eligibility

Children from birth to age 5 who are from families with incomes below the poverty guidelines are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services.

See Eligibility Guidelines

Start Early's Early/Head Start Network

Two girls playing togetherIn addition to providing our own Head Start and Early Head Start programs, Start Early partners with local community-based agencies to deliver comprehensive supports—including early learning, nutrition, family services, health services and wellness services—that address the immediate needs of families, while also helping them plan for future success.

Our community-based agencies offer children and families:

  • Social and emotional learning: A safe and nurturing early learning environment that promotes cooperation, collaboration, and social development in children.
  • Family support services: An assigned family support specialist who assists you with identifying and accessing medical and dental homes, ensuring your child is up-to-date on their health and immunization requirements, developing parent-child goals and providing you community resources and referrals to support your goals.
  • Diverse learner assistance and support: Guidance for navigating the eligibility requirements for Early Intervention in the Chicago Public Schools.
  • Leadership development and engagement: Opportunities to take on leadership roles in Parent Committees and a Policy Council.
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Start Early Programs

Learn more about our early learning programs in Illinois that support each aspect of your child’s development—starting before birth to age 5.

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Enroll Your Child

To get started in the enrollment process, please complete this initial contact form to get connected to an early learning program in your area.

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Resources for Families

Discover educational activities and resources from Start Early experts to provide easy and engaging educational experiences with your child.

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