Early Head Start Program

Job Corps Early Head Start 1500 Indian School Rd. NW Albuquerque, NM 87104 346-2726
La Mariposa Early Head Start 801 Mountain Rd. NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 244-3331
Vadito Early Head Start 5 Picuris Rd. Vadito, NM 87579 587-2337

YDI Early Head Start provides services for seventy-two families. The program serves 64 infants/toddlers from 6 weeks to 3 years old until they can successfully transition into the Head Start Program. In addition eight pregnant moms are served through a home based program.

YDI operates Early Head Start in two New Mexico counties, serving fifty-two infants/toddlers in a center-based, full day, full year program in Bernalillo County and twelve infants/toddlers in a center based, full day, full year program in Taos County. In addition, eight pregnant moms receive prenatal supportive services in a home based program in Bernalillo County. After the child is born he/she is enrolled in the center-based Early Head Start program.

The Early Head Start Centers focus on high quality early education and care. Such care maximizes each child’s development in the physical, emotional, cognitive, language and motor domains. Children’s growth and development is documented throughout their enrollment with the use of the Focused Portfolio Assessment tool, which captures learning, documents observation, and assists teachers in planning an individualized curriculum for each child. Evaluation, diagnosis, and special services, along with a nurturing mainstreamed classroom environment is provided for children with special needs.

Quality education and care begins with the creation of a positive learning environment which is welcoming, warm, friendly, and safe. Key to the environment are nurturing, caring, and highly trained staff members. Each child is assigned a primary teacher and caregiver with a 1:4 teacher/child ratio. Daily activities are responsive to the child’s cues of his/her needs while promoting healthy development along with the supporting and fostering of a strong bonded relationship between the child and their parents.

Early Head Start assists parents to be involved in all aspects of their child’s life. Physical health is promoted by encouraging parents to keep all doctor appointments. Annual physical and dental exams are part of the program. In addition, parents receive training on parenting and form partnerships with staff through which they are supported in setting and achieving mutually established family goals.