Head Start

“Head Start has truly made a difference for my family.  Head Start gave me a place to bring my daughter where I knew she was happy, safe and would have food that was good for her every day.  I am so grateful to have been a part of the Head Start Program.” -previous Head Start Parent

Problem Statement: In Sonoma County, many families encounter barriers to high-quality early care and education due to inability to pay the cost of child care and preschool. CAP Sonoma Head Start is committed to providing no cost, high quality, culturally diverse, school readiness programs and comprehensive services to low-income children and families in our community.

Goal of the Program: To serve children (ages prenatal-5) in community center-based programs throughout Sonoma County who meet Federal Income Guidelines for eligibility.

Primary Activities:

• Nutritious meals and snacks served daily
• Individualized school readiness curriculum and assessment
• Preventative health and dental wellness support
• Nutrition and mental health services
• Family literacy programs
• Facilitated referrals to community services and resources
• Parent education and leadership opportunities
• Family outreach workers provide individualized support
• Full inclusion of children with diagnosed disabilities

Outcome Highlights:

• CAP Sonoma Head Start has served children and families in Sonoma County for the last fifty years
• over 400 children and families served annually
• 10% of funded enrollment reserved for children with special needs

Contact Information:

• (707) 544-6911
  Office Hours: M-F 9:00-5:00

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Head Start

Our Head Start program is funded to serve 453 children ages ranging from 3 to 5 years old. We operate 13 centers throughout Sonoma County 4 days per week, 10 months per year. We offer 25 part-day morning or afternoon center-based classes.

Our goal is to build a strong foundation for school readiness by recognizing each child’s individual strengths and needs as we provide opportunities for each child to grow physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. We have chosen a research-based curriculum to facilitate the comprehensive integrated program that we provide. We use the Creative Curriculum for Preschool.

The cornerstone of our Head Start Family Literacy program is Raising a Reader; a program that sends book bags home to families in an ongoing rotation throughout the year. To learn more about the Raising a Reader program click here.

Early Head Start

Our Early Head Start program is funded to serve 32 children including pregnant women/infants/toddlers from prenatal to 3 years old. We operate 3 centers in Santa Rosa 5 days per week, 12 months per year. We offer 4 full-day center-based classes. We use the Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers and Twos along with The Program for Infant / Toddler Care.

Nueva Vista Infant Program – Prenatal – 18 Months
Early Head Start partners with the Santa Rosa City School District and to provide priority for full-day services to the children of Ridgeway High School students completing their high school education and Nurse-Family Partnership to provide services to pregnant women and their children. This program is by referral only.

Toddler Program – 18 Months – 3 Years Old
Our Early Head Start toddler program provides a safe, age-appropriate, classroom setting that allows children to be creative as they learn through their daily experiences.

Eligibility

Are you eligible but not currently enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start?
Pregnant women and children from birth to five years of age are considered for eligibility. HS/EHS uses the Federal Poverty Guidelines as well as current circumstances such as homelessness, SNAP/CalFresh/SSI recipients, children in foster care, and children with special needs when determining eligibility.

Age

• Head Start Program- Children must turn 3 or 4 years old on or before September 2nd, or 5 years old if the birth date is between September 2nd 2012-December 31st 2012, of the school year you are applying for.
• Early Head Start Toddler Program – Children must be at least 18 months old.

Family Income / Situation

• Family income must be at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines: Click here for the Poverty Guidelines.
• Family receives public assistance (TANF or Supplemental Social Security Income).
• The child is in Foster Care.
• The family is homeless according to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

If your family does not meet our eligibility criteria click here for a link to the Community Child Care Council (also called 4C’s). You may be eligible for one of the state programs.

How to Apply:

Getting your child into Head Start / Early Head Start is a process that starts with an application. Applications are accepted all year long, however, applications received between March 1st and May 31st are screened for first selection.

All applications are subject to verification of the information provided. All enrollment requirements must be completed before placement can be made. Priority attendance areas exist and are given preference.

Please be advised that we typically receive more applications than there are spaces available so, not all applications will result in children being placed in a classroom due to many variable factors.

Ways to apply:

By calling our application line (707) 535-3386
In-person at our main office.

The program actively works with community volunteers as well! If you would like more information about becoming a Head Start / Early Head Start volunteer, please call (707) 544-6911.

Locations:

Early Head Start

CLOVERDALE EHS

322-B Washington St
Cloverdale, CA 95425
Classroom #1 (707) 535-3303
Classroom #2 (707) 535-3307

COOK MIDDLE SCHOOL EHS

2480 Sebastopol Rd
Santa Rosa, Ca 95407
Classroom #1 (707) 535-3315
Classroom #2 (707) 535-3317

KAWANA EHS

2014 Moraga Dr
Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404
Classroom (707) 527-3007

LINCOLN EHS

604 Simpson St
Santa Rosa, Ca. 95401
Classroom (707) 546-4984

Head Start

BARBARA DANIELS-LOVE

1330 Temple Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Classroom (707) 544-8448

CLOVERDALE

322 Washington St
Cloverdale, CA 95425
Classroom (707) 894-9072

COOK MIDDLE SCHOOL

2480 Sebastopol Rd
Santa Rosa, Ca 95407
Classroom (707) 535-3314

DOYLE PARK

1620 Sonoma Ave
Santa Rosa, Ca 95405
Classroom (707) 575-5086

GUILLORY

10288 Starr Rd
Windsor, CA 95492
Classroom (707) 837-8103

JX WILSON

246 Brittain Ln
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Classroom (707) 546-5776

MARTIN LUTHER KING

1336 Temple Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Classroom (707) 528-0803

MARTINEZ

10288 Starr Rd
Windsor, CA 95492
Classroom (707) 837-0917

PETALUMA

110 Ellis St
Petaluma, CA 94952
Classroom (707) 778-3896

RIDGWAY

325 Ridgway Ave
Santa Rosa, Ca 95401
Classroom (707) 527-3011

RL STEVENS

2345 Giffen Ave
Santa Rosa, Ca 95407
Classroom (707) 545-5340

ROHNERT PARK

1290 Southwest Blvd
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Classroom (707) 664-8870

SONOMA VALLEY

17600 Sonoma Hwy
Flowery Elementary School Rm 5.4
Sonoma, CA 95476
Classroom (707) 996-5464