(417) 862 - 4314

Our Service

WHAT IS HEAD START?

Head Start is an early childhood education and development program that fosters healthy development for eligible children and families.

Head Start and Early Head Start provide early childhood and family development services for:

  • Children from birth to age 5
  • Pregnant women
  • Families

Head Start services cover a range of areas:

  • Education and early childhood development
  • Medical, dental, and mental health
  • Nutrition
  • Parental involvement and family support

This website is supported by Grant Number 07CH011799 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.

How Can Head Start Help Your Child?

Every morning and afternoon, up to 20 children between the ages of 3 and 5 benefit from the stimulating, encouraging environment that Head Start provides. Activities include a daily meal, group learning time, science experiments, and of course, fun on the playground! At Head Start, we focus on the whole child, preparing them for success in kindergarten and beyond!

Education

A child’s early years are very important to their learning and development, and kids learn best when they are active.

Head Start prepares children for success in school and in life by teaching them how to learn, not just in preschool, but throughout their lives.

OACAC Head Start is proud to receive funding from Abilities First to support full participation and inclusion of young children with special needs.

Four areas of development:

  • Social and emotional development
  • Physical development
  • Intellectual development
  • Language development

Curriculum approach:

  • Support active learning
  • Encourage exploration through play
  • Promote development of the whole child

Curriculum Goals:

  • For children to become enthusiastic learners
  • For children to get along with each other

Our Service

WHAT IS EARLY HEAD START?

Early Head Start provides continuous, intensive child development and family support on a year-round basis for low-income pregnant women and families with infants and toddlers ages birth to 3 years.

The purpose of Early Head Start is to:

  • Enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development
  • Support parents’ efforts to fulfill their parental roles
  • Help parents move toward self-sufficiency

OACAC respects the parents’ role as their child’s first and most influential teacher:

  • We work with parents to set developmentally appropriate goals for their children
  • We host family nights for participating families
  • Clients receive regular home visits

EHS cares for each child as an individual:

  • We require weekly observations of each child’s development
  • We compile quarterly developmental assessment reports
  • Information is used to plan for each child’s learning and care individually

OACAC ensures that all EHS teachers are qualified to provide excellent care by requiring that all teachers have, at minimum, and Infant/Toddler CDA or its equivalent at the time of hire or within one year.

ELIGIBILITY

Who Is Eligible for Head Start? 

Head Start serves (1) Families with incomes below designated poverty guidelines; (2) Children from homeless families; (3) Children in Foster Care; (4) Families receiving public assistance such as SNAP or TANF.

Head Start Income Guidelines 2024

# OF PERSONS IN FAMILY/HOUSEHOLDANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME
1$15,060
2$20,440
3$25,820
4$31,200
5$36,580
6$41,960
7$47,340
8$52,720

Head Start Age Requirements 2024-2025 beginning Fall 2024

Children are eligible for Head Start once they turn three years old. Applications may be taken at age two and a half. Four year old children still have priority.

Date Range Age
8/1/2019 - 7/31/20204 year-olds
8/1/2020- 7/31/20213 year-olds

Early Head Start Age Requirements 2024-2025 beginning Fall 2024

Children who are birth to three years-old and pregnant women.

Date RangeAge
8/1/2021 - 7/31/2022
2 year-olds
8/1/2022 - 7/31/20231 year-olds
8/1/2023 - 7/31/2024Babies
Any agePregnant women

CONTACT

How Can You Sign Up for Head Start?

For information about enrolling your child in Head Start, call 417-864-3430 or toll free at 1-866-282-3430 or to enroll by email click here. You can also fill out our Parent Information Request form and turn it in at one of our offices.

5 W Delta St, Aurora, MO 65605

Phone: 678-5390
Fax: 678-0399

 

1500 E Broadway St, Bolivar, MO 65613

Phone: 777-8932
Fax: 777-2376

4765 S 131st Rd, Bolivar, MO 65613

Phone: 777-4343
Fax: same

829 S Falls Ave lot 1, Branson, MO 65616

HEAD START
Phone: 332-0003
Fax: 332-0019

EARLY HEAD START
Phone: 332-0444
Fax: 334-4004

235 Olympus Dr, Branson, MO 65616

Phone: 302-2243
Fax: 302-2244

915 N Ash St, Buffalo, MO 65622

EARLY HEAD START
Phone: 345-1522
Fax: 345-0312

HEAD START
Phone: 345-2240
Fax: 345-0312

517 Park St, Greenfield, MO 65661

Phone: 637-2090
Fax: 637-6005

178 Jessica St, Hollister, MO 65672

Phone: 334-7515
Fax: 334-1289

415 Staake Spur, Kissee Mills, MO 65680

Phone: 546-4635
Fax: same

E Commerce Rd, Marshfield, MO 65706

Phone: 859-6293
Fax: 275-0455

307 15th St, Monett, MO 65708

Phone: 235-3911
Fax: same

309 15th St, Monett, MO 65708

Phone: 235-8779
Fax: 304-2675

406 S Patricia Ave, Nixa, MO 65714

Phone:724-2920
Fax: 724-1294

22601 Main St, Reeds Spring, MO 65737

Phone: 272-1002
Fax: same

933 N Lindsey Ave, Republic, MO 65738

Phone: 732-1771
Fax: 732-1772

1042 S Douglas Ave, Springfield, MO 65807

Phone: 831-4540
Fax: 831-0190

1051 S Grant Ave, Springfield, MO 65807

Phone: 865-5674
Fax: 865-5625

2238 W Kingsley St, Springfield, MO 65807

Phone: 851-1579
Fax: 212-5218

2723 S Meadowbrook Ave, Springfield, MO 65807

Phone: 882-2885
Fax: 413-2709

552 N Stewart Ave, Springfield, MO 65802

Phone: 864-4997
Fax: 864-5557

637 W Tampa St, Springfield, MO 65802

Phone: 864-4176
Fax: 864-4179

246 N Farm Rd 115, Springfield, MO 65802

Phone: 864-6152
Fax: 864-5707

 

AURORA HEAD START
5 West Delta Street
Aurora MO 65605 (Lawrence County)
Phone: 678-5390 Fax: 678-0399

BOLIVAR BROADWAY HEAD START
1500 East Broadway St
Bolivar MO 65613 (Polk County)
Phone: 777-8932 Fax: 777-2376

BOLIVAR KARLIN LN HEAD START
4765 South 131st Road
Bolivar MO 65613 (Polk County)
Phone: 777-4343 Fax: same

BRANSON FALL CREEK HEAD START
829 South Falls Avenue Lot 1
Branson MO 65616 (Taney County)
HS: Phone: 332-0003 Fax: 332-0019
EHS: Phone: 332-0444 Fax: 334-4004

BRANSON RIDGECREST HEAD START
235 Olympus Drive
Branson, MO 65616 (Taney County)
Phone: 302-2243 Fax: 302-2244

BUFFALO ASH HEAD START
915 North Ash
Buffalo MO 65622 (Dallas County)
EHS: Phone: 345-1522 Fax: 345-0312
HS: Phone: 345-2240 Fax: 345-0312

GREENFIELD HEAD START
517 Park Street
Greenfield MO 65661 (Dade County)
Phone: 637-2090 Fax: 637-6005

HOLLISTER HEAD START
178 Jessica Street
Hollister MO 65672 (Taney County)
Phone: 334-7515 Fax: 334-1289

KISSEE MILLS HEAD START
415 Staake Spur
Kissee Mills MO 65680 (Taney County)
Phone: 546-4635 Fax: same

MARSHFIELD HEAD START
110 East Commerce
Marshfield, MO 65706 (Webster County)
Phone: 859-6293 Fax: 275-0455

MONETT 1 EARLY HEAD START
307-15th Street
Monett MO 65708 (Barry County)
Phone: 235-3911 Fax: same

MONETT 2 HEAD START
309-15th Street
Monett MO 65708 (Barry County)
Phone: 235-8779 Fax: 304-2675

NIXA HEAD START
406 Patricia
Nixa MO 65714 (Christian County)
Phone: 724-2920 Fax: 724-1294

REEDS SPRING HEAD START
22601 Main Street
Reeds Spring MO 65737 (Stone County)
Phone: 272-1002 Fax: same

REPUBLIC HEAD START
933 North Lindsey
Republic MO 65738 (Greene County)
Phone: 732-1771 Fax: 732-1772

DOUGLAS HEAD START
1042 South Douglas
Springfield MO 65807
Phone: 831-4540 or 831-4256 Fax: 831-0190

GRANT HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START
1051 South Grant
Springfield MO 65807
Phone: 865-5674 or 865-5681 Fax: 865-5625

KINGSLEY HEAD START
2238 West Kingsley Street
Springfield MO 65807
Phone: 851-1579 Fax: 212-5218

MEADOWBROOK HEAD START
2723 South Meadowbrook Ave
Springfield MO 65807
Phone: 882-2885 Fax: 413-2709

STEWART HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START
552 North Stewart Ave
Springfield MO 65802
Phone: 864-4997 or 864-4998 Fax: 864-5557

TAMPA HEAD START
637 West Tampa
Springfield MO 65802
Phone: 864-4176 or *864-4179 Fax: 864-4179

WEST CHESTNUT EXPRESSWAY HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START
246 North Farm Road 115
Springfield MO 65802
Phone: 864-6152 Fax: 864-5707

VOLUNTEER TODAY

You can support early childhood development by volunteering at your local Head Start!

DONATE TODAY

Your support gives kids a healthy start and prepares them for a lifetime of learning success!