For Families

We partner with families to make sure they have everything they need to support and enrich their children's lives.

Our agency accepts applications all year! Students are enrolled throughout the school year as openings become available!

Enrollment Application

Solicitud de Inscripcion

How to Apply

Fill out our enrollment application here (Haga clic aquí para la versión en español).

For our Jefferson County locations, you will need to contact Jefferson County Head Start at 920-674-5577 if you have any questions or to set up your screening appointment.

For our Westosha (Western Kenosha County) location, you can contact 262-862-6168.

Both locations can provide you with the required enrollment application forms and answer any questions you may have about the program and your child’s involvement.

Head Start considers household income, child's age and family size for eligibility. You may also be eligible if you receive:

Income within the current Federal Poverty Level (FPL) (Head Start can make adjustments to a family’s gross income calculation for the purpose of determining eligibility to account for excessive housing costs). Ask for more details.

Income Eligible (at or below 100% of poverty)
Receiving Public Assistance
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Foodshare/SNAP
Currently fostering an age eligible child
You are experiencing homelessness
10% of program slots are reserved for children with disabilities

ALWAYS check with staff, as there are many ways to be eligible for Head Start!

What documents do I need to bring to my screening appointment?

BRING PROOF OF INCOME:

Proof of income can be any of the following items for income:

Income Tax Statement for the year: W-2 Form, Pay Check Stub, or Anything that will enable us to determine the prior twelve (12) months gross income or the last calendar year income
SSI Letter (if applicable)
Foster Care/Kinship Care Documentation (if applicable)
SNAP Benefits award letter and SNAP benefit card

ALSO BRING THE FOLLOWING:

Child’s Birth Certificate
Social Security Number for the Enrolling Child (if applicable)
Child’s Immunization Record
Name, Address, Telephone Numbers of Doctor, Dentist and any Specialists
Child’s Badger Card or Insurance Card

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

There is no cost for Head Start. Families must meet eligibility requirements.
Children who enroll for Jefferson County Head Start must be three (3) or four (4) years of age by September 1st of the new school year.

All children enrolled in Head Start must be age-eligible, a child is eligible to participate in Head Start if:
- Child’s family income is at or below the federally determined poverty guideline
- Child’s family is receiving public assistance (TANF, SSI or SNAP)
- 10% of the total enrollment for the program may be over the Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Child’s family is experiencing homelessness, or
- Child is in foster care or kinship care
No, our staff will work with you to help in the potty training process.
Yes. Ten percent of the total number of children enrolled in each Head Start program must be children with diagnosed disabilities. Head Start works with all the local school districts to ensure children are getting services to meet their individual needs and be eligible for the program.
Due to the uniqueness of each family, we encourage all to apply. Call the Head Start program in your county or visit the Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA) website to locate a Head Start program near you.
All children enrolled in Head Start classrooms receive a breakfast, lunch or afternoon snack at no charge to parents.
Morning classes receive breakfast and lunch, while Afternoon classes receive lunch and a snack. If a child is enrolled in the Full Day program, children then receive breakfast, lunch and snack.
Nutrition is important to healthy growth and development. A nutrition consultant reviews the menus, develops nutrition plans with parents for their child as needed and visits sites to assess compliance with sanitation and nutrition practices in the classrooms.
The Head Start Nutritionist will work with you to develop a menu your child can eat at Head Start.
You may come to see your child at Head Start; we have an open door policy.
Jefferson County Head Start busses operate throughout the county providing transportation within a pre-designated radius from the center. Transportation may be available on a limited basis. Parents should inquire about transportation when enrolling their child.
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Ann Beam at 262-862-6168 to hear more about different volunteer opportunities at our Head Start Centers.

Parent Involvement Opportunities

POLICY COUNCIL

Policy Council is a group of parents and community members who oversee the delivery of Head Start services to children and families. Over half of the Policy Council membership is made up of parents who have children currently enrolled in the program. The rest of the membership include Community Representatives, which can include past parents, or members from local organizations and community partners.

Policy Council members work with Head Start Management Staff and the CESA2 Board of Control to develop, review, and approve or disapprove of the following: funding applications, the annual budget, the annual and on-going self assessment process, criteria for recruitment and enrollment, personnel policies, and decisions regarding hiring or termination of staff.

CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS

There are many opportunities for volunteering within the Head Start program. At the center locations, there are always opportunities to do some of the following:

Volunteer in the classroom, offices or kitchen
Take home projects to help teachers prepare for lessons
Help with minor repairs
Be a Lending Library volunteer

Program-wide, you have the opportunity to volunteer as a member of some of our on-going committees, which include Policy Council, Parent Committees, and Advisory Committees.

Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Ann Beam at 262-862-6168 to hear more about the different volunteer opportunities available at all of our Head Start Centers.

What Our Families Are Saying

“My daughter has been in Head Start for a year. Head Start has benefited me greatly in the way that I can leave my daughter in the care of the school and at the same time, she is learning while I work. It has been a blessing. Head Start had an impact on my life by getting to know my daughter better through the wonderful teachers who helped her grow and learn.”

Trinidad V / Parent, Watertown

My daughter has been in Head Start for 2 years and it has been wonderful in providing help & tools in my daughter’s learning. It has been so helpful and amazing in my daughter’s eagerness to learn & make friends and it also has helped academically and socially.”

Heather S. / Parent, Jefferson