Head Start

What is Head Start?   
Head Start is an early childhood program operated by Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC). Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide comprehensive early childhood and family development services to children from birth to five-years-old, pregnant women and families. Head Start provides a range of individualized services in the areas of education and early childhood development; medical, dental, and mental health; nutrition; parental involvement and family support. Our program has a long tradition of delivering comprehensive and high quality services designed to foster healthy development for income eligible children and their families.

Education
Children are learning all the time-and they learn best by being active. The most important goals of our curriculum are for children to get along well with each other and become enthusiastic learners. We teach them how to learn, not just in preschool, but throughout their lives.

A child’s early years are very important to their development and learning. Head Start helps to prepare children for success in school and life. Our curriculum supports active learning, exploration through play and development of the whole child. Our teachers focus on four areas of development:
• Social & Emotional Development
• Physical Development
• Intellectual Development
• Language Development

For information about enrolling your child in Head Start, call 417-864-3430 or toll-free at 1-866-282-3430.

Resources For Head Start and Early Head Start

 Springfield (Greene County) Head Start Locations:

BROADWAY HEAD START   (417) 862-9146 

DOUGLAS HEAD START  (417) 831-4540

GOLDEN HEAD START  (417) 882-2885   

GRANT TRAINING CENTER  (417) 865-5681

RITTER HEAD START  (417) 833-5256

STEWART HEAD START  (417) 864-4997

WEST CHESTNUT EXPRESSWAY HEAD START   (417) 864-6152