The Head Start Program was established in 1965, to provide preschool children of low income families a comprehensive, family-centered, child development program to meet their educational, emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs. UDMO offers Head Start in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto and Pocahontas counties. In addition, children ages zero to three and their families may participate in the Early Head Start Program in Clay County.
UDMO’s Head Start Program is recognized for its collaboration with local school districts and Area Education Agencies. This allows for many more children in Northwest Iowa to be served.

Some Head Start Centers also offer WRAP Around Child Care for families whose parents are working, attending school or who are in job training. WRAP provides child care that “wraps around” the school day schedule. It enables parents who are working to receive care for their children that fits the routine workday schedule.

UDMO’s Head Start and Early Head Start Programs have collaborated with local Empowerment areas to better meet the needs of children and families in each of the communities we serve. Empowerment funding works at the local level to increase the quality of all of our Early Childhood Programs. It has offered transportation assistance to many families. With Empowerment assistance we were able to open an additional classroom, serving children and families whose income exceeds the Head Start guidelines. Currently, Head Start has 22 classrooms and serves approximately 450 children in eight counties. Early Head Start located in Clay County serves an additional 100 children.

The Early Childhood Programs of UDMO are unique. All centers offer full day services, follow the local school district calendars and offer extended care in the summer if families are working towards self-sufficiency. Early Head Start is a full day, full year program. Parents can choose center base, home base or the child care option.