Enrollment
Head Start of Washington County is committed to providing quality services for your child and his/her total family. Early Head Start programs serve pregnant women and children from birth to age three. Head Start Programs serves children ages three to five years. Early Head Start children may qualify to transition into the Head Start Program or another Pre-K Program. Head Start of Washington County is MSDE Certified and OCC Licensed Program.
Families must reside in Washington County, Maryland and meet Head Start Income Guidelines for eligibility into the program. Those receiving public financial assistance, SNAP, TCA or SSI are automatically eligible for our program. Children are not required to be potty trained in our program.
Head Start of Washington County will continue to fulfill our mission of providing children with nurturing experiences, and a strong foundation for developmental growth and opportunities to achieve school readiness.
WHAT CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN OUR PROGRAM?
Head Start Classes (Children age 3 to 5 years)
- Full-Day | Part-Year (September-June) Four Head Sstart Classrooms Available;
Classes operate from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm; Monday through Friday;
at our MLK Center (131 W. North Avenue, Hagerstown, MD)
- Full-Day | Part-Year (September-June) Five Head Start Classrooms Available;
Classes operate from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm; Monday through Friday;
at Sargent Shriver HS Center (837 Spruce Street, Hagerstown, MD)
- Full-Day | Part-Year (September-June) One Pre-K Classroom Available;
This Class operates from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm; Monday through Friday;
at Sargent Shriver HS Center (837 Spruce Street, Hagerstown, MD)
- Full-Day | Full-Year (September-August) Two Head Start Classrooms Available;
Classes operate from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm; Monday through Friday;
This center requires parents to transport to and from the center; Bus transportation is not available;
Child Care Scholarship is required for children to attend this center;
at Elgin Station Center (40 Elgin Blvd., Hagerstown, MD)
- Full-Day | Part-Year (September-June) One Head Start Classroom Available;
This Class operates from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm; Monday through Friday;
at Noland Community Center (1048 Noland Drive, Hagerstown, MD)*
* Note: Children in McCleary Hill can also be transported to this center. Children living in
Noland/McCleary Hill, age birth to age 3, may also attend our Shriver Center.
Early Head Start Classes (Children birth to 2 years)
- Full-Day | Full-Year (September-August) Two Infant Classrooms & Four Two's Classrooms Available;
Classes operate from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm; Monday through Friday;
Transportation of Infants is by parent; Bus Transportation may be provided for Two & Three Year Olds;
at MLK Center (131 W. North Avenue)
- Full-Day | Full-Year (September-August) One Infant Classroom & Two Two's Classrooms Available;
Classes operate from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm; Monday through Friday;
Transportation of Infants is by parent; Bus Transportation may be provided for Two & Three Year Olds;
at Sargent Shriver Center (837 Spruce Street)
- Full-Day | Full-Year (September-August) One Infant Classroom & One Two's Classroom Available;
This center requires parents to transport to and from the center; Bus transportation is not available;
Child Care Scholarship is required for children to attend this center;
at Elgin Station Center (40 Elgin Blvd., Hagerstown, MD)
Early Head Start Home Based Option (Prenatal to age three years)
Homebased option offers educational and family enrichment opportunities in the comfort of the family's home. An Advocate/Teacher will make weekly educational visits to your home and provide bi-weekly socializations in one of our centers. Socializations allow children and parents to engage with other families.
Expectant Mother Program (Prenatal)
Head Start of Washington County offers a homebased prenatal options to expectant mothers. When enrolling in this program the expectant mother is assigned a home based teacher who uses Parents as Teachers Curriculum to educate the mother about her pregnancy and what to expect once the baby is born.
The needs for appropriate support for emotional well-being, nurturing and responsive caregiving, and father engagement during pregnancy and early childhood. While enrolled the mother will receive two visits per month from a Homebased Advocate/Teacher. The visits will consist of a lesson from the curriculum.
The Homebase Advocate/Teacher will discuss with you and provide materials on
• Prenatal and Postpartum recovery
• Education and services that address fetal development
• The risks of alcohol, drugs, and smoking
• Nutritional counseling
• Food assistance
• Oral health care
• Labor and delivery
• Mental Health Services; Parental depression
• Infant care and breast feeding
• Safe sleep practices
• Substance abuse prevention and treatment
• Emergency shelter or transitional housing in cases of domestic violence
The visits are scheduled with the mother and last about an hour and a half. The mother is also offered a prenatal and postnatal visit from a registered nurse employed by Meritus Hospital.
Once the baby is born the baby is then enrolled into the home based program and the family then receives weekly visits from Homebased Advocate/Teacher using the Parents as Teachers Curriculum.
HOW TO ENROLL IN OUR PROGRAM?
Please feel free stop by any of our five locations and pick up a Child Enrollment Packet, they are available at :
Head Start of Washington County, Inc.
Enrollment Office | Sargent Shriver Center
837 Spruce Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740
or
- Elgin Station Center - 40 Elgin Blvd., Hagerstown, Maryland
- MLK Center - 131 W. North Ave., Hagerstown, Maryland
- Noland Community Center - 1048 Noland Dr., Hagerstown, Maryland
- Administration Office - 325 W. Memorial Blvd., Hagersown, Maryland
To enroll a child in our program a child enrollment form which is entitled Eligibility and Selection Form must be filled out by parent or guardian. (one per child) The Eligibility and Selection Form is included in our Child Enrollment Packet.
The Child Enrollment Packet contains a Eligibility and Selection Form, directions on submitting the form and providing proof of household income documentation, Household income documentation items must be submitted along with the Eligibility and Selection Form (Child Enrollment Application). Also included in the packet are three forms (1.) HSWC Physical Form (2.) Maryland Health Immunization Certificate (3.) Maryland Health Blood Lead Testing Certificate ; these forms must be completed by your childs Pediatrician and turned into our Enrollment Office before your child can start attending classes.
Once you have completed the Eligibility and Selection Form (Child Enrollment Application) you may drop it off at Sargent Shriver Center. If you would like a Child Enrollment Packet mailed to you by US mail or sent to you by email you can do so by contacting Missi Jones at (301) 733-4640 extention 110. Missi Jones our Enrollment Specialist email address is: mjones@headstartwashco.org , you may contact her to answer any questions you have regarding filling out the application, providing the household income verifications documents, or waitlist status.
Head Start/Early Head Start 2024 Family Gross Income Guidelines 1/11/2024
As of January 11, 2024, the Federal Register the Department of Health and Human Services have released new 2024 poverty guidelines. The 2024 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Persons in family/ household Poverty guideline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 $15,060
2 $20,440
3 $25,820
4 $31,200
5 $36,580
6 $41,960
7 $47,340
8 $52,720
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $5,380 for each additional person.
For general questions about the poverty guidelines themselves, please refer to the following resource:
https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT RECEIVING MONEY TO PAY FOR QUALITY CHILD CARE?
The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) (formerly known as Child Care Subsidy/Child Care Vouchers) Program provides financial assistance with child care costs to eligible working families in Maryland. The program is managed through a centralized vendor Child Care Subsidy Central (CCS Central). For more information visit Maryland.gov website at https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/child-care-providers/child-care-scholarship-program
To attend our Elgin Station Center a Child Care Scholarship is required.