Head Start Model

Provides a safe, healthy, cultural, and educational environment for young children from very low-income families when parents are unable to care for them due to work, disability, or other reasons.

Operates through a network of 70 Affiliates with over 32,000 staff and 35,000 volunteers nationwide, and provides accessibility training and resources to employees across affiliates.

Maintains websites that meet or exceed WCAG 2.2 Level AA and Section 508 federal accessibility standards to ensure inclusive access for people with disabilities.

Provides occupational health services to individuals with disabilities, with documented program expenses of $6,010,736 in 2021 and $4,394,817 in 2019.

Offers workforce development programs for individuals with disabilities, with $1,932,092 in program expenses reported in 2019.

Runs a Child Development Center Network that provides early childhood education and developmental support to over 25,000 children daily.

Delivers personalized support and innovative programs to help children and adults with disabilities build skills, regain independence, and achieve their full potential across all life stages. Serves approximately 1.5 million people annually through a national affiliate network spanning 48 states.

Partners with FreeWill to offer free will and trust creation services to individuals, expanding access to essential estate planning resources.

Provides services that enable people with disabilities to live, learn, and work in communities, with $3,805,224 in program expenses reported in 2023.

Provides energy assistance, conducts home energy audits, and implements weatherization upgrades including air sealing, appliance testing or replacement, and installation of energy-saving devices for eligible homeowners and renters. Offers re-weatherization for homes previously treated at least 15 years ago.

Conducted a Child Care Resource and Referral Needs Assessment that identified a significant need for infant child care in Schoharie County.

Provides career counseling, job search assistance, and employment training for unemployed or underemployed individuals, particularly those re-entering the workforce. Offers career readiness workshops in resume writing, online job searching, Microsoft Office, financial literacy, and job development, as well as customized employee training for local businesses.

Deploys Family Partners who provide peer support including systems navigation, referrals, accompaniment to court and school meetings, and emotional support for families. Offers skill-building classes for parents and youth focused on advocacy, emotional regulation, communication, and family strengthening.

Provides child care referrals to parents through a Program Coordinator, assists with subsidy information, and distributes a parent newsletter with child care resources. Operates a breastfeeding peer counselor program and supports family engagement through skill-building classes and Family Team Conferences that build on family strengths.

Operates a Community Service Restitution program and a Thrift Store in Schoharie County as part of its community-based support services.

Operates a Head Start program serving children ages three to five and their families to promote kindergarten readiness. Provides home and community-based Early Intervention services through Whispering Pines Preschool for infants and toddlers with disabilities or developmental delays.

Operates a Domestic Violence Program and Counseling programs, provides Crime Victim’s Advocacy, and offers support services for Kinship Caregivers in Schoharie County.

Offers rental assistance for first month's rent or past-due rent to individuals who do not qualify for Department of Social Services support and have exhausted other options. Provides housing assistance to unsheltered families and individuals, and delivers fuel and power advocacy and assistance—including negotiation of payment plans—for households facing utility delinquency due to crises such as job loss or death of a household member.