STEP Inc.- Stuart

Head Start is a comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement program that was created in 1965. Nearly 25 million pre-school aged children across the United States have benefited from Head Start. It is designed to foster the healthy development of three and four year old children from low-income families. Early Head Start evolved out of Head Start’s long history of providing services to infants and toddlers. The recent advances in the field of infant development make this an especially exciting time to have Head Start formally expand its family to include the provision of Early Head Start services. STEP provides education, nutritious meals, and the opportunity for the social, emotional, and intellectual growth that helps to prepare the children for success in school and life. In addition, STEP Head Start provides medical and dental support services. The Head Start approach serves the entire family and seeks to empower both parent and child.

STEP Head Start/Early Head Start is funded to serve 210 clients which include children from birth through age five in Franklin and Patrick counties. With over 50 staff members, Head Start/Early Head Start employees include Head Start teachers and teacher assistants, Early Head Start caregivers, family service specialists, Early Head Start family educators, health advocates, and transportation specialists.

In Patrick County, we have three Head Start classrooms, two Early Head Start classrooms, and an Early Head Start home base option. In Franklin County, we have three Head Start classrooms and an additional three collaborative Head Start classrooms. Our collaborative classrooms are partnerships with Franklin County schools where our students attend the same class as other pre-kindergarten students. We also have four Early Head Start classrooms and the Early Head Start home base option in Franklin County.

Classrooms are open from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with some variations in hours depending on location. Early Head Start operates year round with some time off for holidays and staff training. Head Start generally operates from August to May with some time off for holidays and staff training.
STEP’s Head Start partners with Franklin County Public Schools, Patrick County Public Schools, Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia, and Piedmont Community Services in both counties to support the growth and development of children and families with the ultimate goal of school readiness.