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.
Head Start Classes (Children age 3 to 5 years)
- Full-Day | Part-Year (September-June) Four HS Classrooms;
Classes operate from 8:00am to 2:00pm;
Monday through Friday at MLK Center (131 W. North Avenue, Hagerstown, MD)
- Full-Day | Part-Year (September-June) Five HS Classrooms;
Classes operate from 9:00am to 3:00pm;
Monday through Friday at Sargent Shriver HS Center (837 Spruce Street, Hagerstown, MD)
- Full-Day | Part-Year (September-June) One Pre-K Classroom;
Classes operate from 9:00am to 3:30pm;
Monday through Friday at Sargent Shriver HS Center (837 Spruce Street, Hagerstown, MD)
- Full-Day | Full-Year (September-August) Two HS Classrooms;
Classes operate from 7:00am to 5:00pm depending upon parent work or school schedule;
Child Care Scholarship/Vouchers are required for this center & transportation is by parent;
Monday through Friday at Elgin Station Center (40 Elgin Blvd., Hagerstown, MD)
- Full-Day | Part-Year (September-June) One HS Classroom;
Classes operate from 9:00am to 3:00pm;
Monday through Friday at Noland Community Center (1048 Noland Drive, Hagerstown, MD)*
* Note: Children in McCleary Hill can also be transported to this classroom. Children living in
Noland/McCleary Hill, age birth-3, will 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;
Classes operate from 8:00am to 2:00pm; Transportation of Infants is by parent;
Monday through Friday at MLK Center (131 W. North Avenue)
- Full-Day | Full-Year (September-August) One Infant Classroom & Two Two's Classrooms;
Classes operate from 9:00am to 3:00pm; Transportation of Infants is by parent;
Monday through Friday at Sargent Shriver Center (837 Spruce Street)
- Full-Day | Full-Year (September-August) One Infant Classroom & One Two's Classroom;
Classes operate from 7:00am to 5:00pm depending upon parent work or school schedule;
Child Care Scholarship/Vouchers are required for this center & transportation is by parent;
Monday through Friday at Elgin Station Center (40 Elgin Blvd.)
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?
To enroll a child in our program an application entitled Eligibility and Selection Form must be filled out by parent or guardian. (one per child) The form can be found in our Child Enrollment Packet.
Within the Child Enrollment Packet are directions for proof of income items that must be submitted along with the Eligibility and Selection Form. 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.
Below is a link to download and print the Child Enrollment Packet and all neccesary documents and forms ( nine pages in total). If you are unable to print these documents at home, please feel free stop by any of our center locations and pick up a Child Enrollment Packet.
When you have completed the Applications you may email them to Missi Jones mjones@headstartwashco.org OR drop it off or mail it to the address listed below:
Head Start of Washington County, Inc.
Enrollment Office | Sargent Shriver Center
837 Spruce Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740
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.