Children & Families First

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

90% of the brain’s growth occurs before kindergarten, making quality early childhood education critical in establishing the connections a child needs to be successful in school and in life. Children & Families First’s Early Childhood Education programs foster at-risk children’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being, prepare them to enter kindergarten on track, promote family engagement, and support families in becoming self-sufficient.

HEAD START & EARLY HEAD START

Children & Families First’s Head Start/Early Head Start program is federally funded, and provides quality preschool education, nutrition and health services at no cost to children and families in Guilford County.

We are the largest Head Start/Early Head Start program in North Carolina, operating 14 early learning centers in Guilford and Rockingham Counties – all accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

WHY HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START?

Head Start/Early Head Start lays the foundation for school readiness and prepares children Age 6 weeks to 4 years old for lifelong academic and personal success. Children enrolled in our Head Start/Early Head Start program can expect to receive:

  • Exceptional early learning and Kindergarten preparation provided by highly trained staff
  • Free developmental screenings
  • Medical, dental and mental health services
  • Disability services
  • Creative and engaging curriculum
  • Nutrition services, and
  • Opportunities for parental involvement

All of our services are responsive and tailored to meet your family’s developmental, ethnic, and cultural needs.

NORTH CAROLINA PRE-k PROGRAM

The North Carolina Pre-K Program (NC Pre-K) provides eligible 4-year-olds with high-quality educational experiences to prepare them for Kindergarten and future success in school. The program’s specialized curriculum emphasizes:

  •  Approaches to play and learning
  • Emotional and social development
  • Health and physical development
  •  Language development and communication, and cognitive development

HOW TO ENROLL

NC Pre-K is offered through Guilford County Schools, private licensed childcare centers, and Head Start programs like Children & Families First. All of these options are at no cost to families.

For details on each of these options and how to apply, please contact any of our 14 locations.