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YDI Head Start
901 Pennsylvania NE, Albuquerque NM 87110
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Now in its eleventh year of operation, YDI Early/Head Start experienced dramatic
growth since it became the interim Head Start grantee in Bernallilo County in 1995,
mirroring the growth of the Early/Head Start Program across the country since President
Johnson declared “War on Poverty” in 1964. Sargent Shriver was named head of the
War on Poverty program and in December 1964 he asked Dr. Robert Cooke, pediatrician
at John Hopkins University , to head a steering committee of specialists in all
fields to discuss what should be done for young children.
Designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income
families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional,
educational, and physical needs, Head Start was launched, serving over 560,000 children
and families across American in an eight-week summer program. By 1984 Head Start
had served 9,144,990 children and their families. In 1972 the Economic Opportunity
Act was amended, mandating that at least 10 percent of the national enrollment of
Head Start consist of handicapped children. In September 1995 the first Early Head
Start grants were awarded to provide services for children birth to age three and
pregnant women.
In 1996 YDI became the permanent grantee for Head Start in Bernalillo County. At
that time the Head Start program in Bernalillo County had 8 centers. Today YDI’s
Head Start program operates 33 NAEYC accredited centers in three counties with a
total funded enrollment of 1,588 children.
In 1998 YDI became the interim grantee for the Head Start program in Rio Arriba
and Taos Counties and became the permanent grantee the following year. Since 1998
YDI has also begun offering Early Head Start services to 32 infants/toddlers and
their families and 8 pregnant moms in Bernalillo County. Today YDI Early Head Start
has expanded to serving 48 infants/toddlers and 8 pregnant moms in Bernalillo County
and 16 infants/toddlers and their families in Taos County.
HOW TO APPLY
You are eligible for Head Start if your child(ren) are between 3 and 5 years old
and you meet the federal income guidelines. The third birthday has to occur before
September 1 of the school year for which you are applying. Your child is eligible
for Early Head Start at six months of age and will be able to transition into Head
Start when he/she turns 3. If you are pregnant you are welcome to apply to the pregnant
moms program. To make an
appointment with a services specialist for application, call the Head Start administrative
office and you will be referred to the center nearest to you.
IN >BERNALILLO COUNTY CALL: 268-0024
IN TAOS OR RIO ARRIBA COUNTY CALL: 1-877-228-0068
You will be asked to bring the following:
- Proof of income for the past 12 months
- Proof of Birth (Birth Certificate, Baptismal)
- Up-to-date Immunization Record