Early Head Start Partnership Program

Learning begins at birth and is strongly influenced by a child’s environment – parents, teachers, and caregivers. The Ohio State University’s Early Head Start Partnership Program provides high-quality early childhood education for children birth through age four who live in households experiencing poverty. We also provide comprehensive support to families in a two-generational approach that supports families in socio-economic mobility.

Infants and toddlers in our program develop cognitive and social-emotional skills that set them up for lifelong learning. We work with providers from 15 child care centers and 11 family child care homes throughout Central Ohio. See where our providers are located and learn more here. These providers receive funding, classroom and educational materials, and playground equipment to improve the quality of education they offer. Our coaches also support the educators’ ongoing professional development in early care and education.  

Our Early Head Start program also works with 30 families who educate their children at home and supports 25 pregnant mothers from pregnancy through the first six weeks after birth.

Every family in our program is assigned a family specialist who can connect them with community resources including housing stability, workforce development, continued education, and financial security. Through our community partnerships, we also provide medical, dental, hearing, mental and behavioral health, nutrition, and early intervention services.

Our families are also involved in the planning and implementation of our program activities. Many of our parents serve on policy councils and committees, take part in classes and workshops on child development, and volunteer in the program.