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Early Learning Programs

Head Start/Early Head Start Learning Programs

Community Teamwork offers four center-based Head Start/Early Head Start early learning programs that include the Community Teamwork James Houlares Early Learning Center, the Children’s Village at the Mill, Parker Avenue Elementary (Dracut) and the Lowell Collaborative Preschool Academy (in conjunction with Lowell Public Schools and Little Sprouts).

Community Teamwork also offers the home-based Home Visiting Program for Early Head Start and Head Start where the focus of service delivery is in the home. The Early Learning center-based programs are part of the national Head Start program that promotes school readiness by providing quality education services to children in a nurturing, safe environment and comprehensive community-based services to children and families. Eligible children and families receive services in the areas of education and care (including individualized curriculum in all learning areas), health, child literacy, nutrition, and social-emotional development. The center programs also offer other services, if needed, based on the Family Needs Assessment. These programs are licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

The programs accept eligible 3 and 4 year old children until they are age eligible for Kindergarten. Early Head Start accepts eligible infants and toddlers. The program’s overall mission is to support and ensure families stay or become self-sufficient. The program’s goals include:

Developing meaningful and lasting partnerships with parents that build upon their strengths to meet their child’s needs
Assisting families in accessing additional services in their local community
Nurturing children’s physical, cognitive, language and social-emotional development to ensure they are ready for school
Ensuring families can support their child’s learning and are engaged in the long-term, life-long success of their child
Promoting a positive and respectful environment for children, families and staff

Eligibility Requirements:

Families whose incomes are at or below state poverty guidelines*
Families who are receiving public assistance (TANF, SSI)
Families who do not have a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence or who share the housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship
Children in foster care or involved with Department of Children & Families
Children with disabilities

*A limited number of families may earn more than the state poverty guidelines.

The home-based Early Learning Home Visiting Program offers comprehensive services to pregnant women and children age birth through age 3 and their families through weekly home visits and socialization experiences. The focus is to provide high quality, flexible and culturally competent child development experiences as well as parent support services.

The Home Visiting Program is for families in which the home is the child’s primary learning environment. The core of the program is a 90- minute weekly home visit where professional staff work with the family to identify goals for both the child and the family. Individual plans and goals for socialization, nutrition, health, child development and other family-specific needs are created in partnership with staff, parents or guardians. The program also offers socialization activities that include a twice a month parent/child interactive playgroup. Expectant moms are supported by a curriculum and service approach that promotes positive prenatal outcomes for both mom and baby.

The Home Visiting Program is available to families residing in Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford and Wilmington.

Eligibility

Early Head Start Home Visiting Program: Low-income pregnant women and families with children ages birth through 3 years old
Priority enrollment is also available to children age birth to 3 years old who receive disability services.

Listen to Kara O’Sullivan, Home Based Manager and Nicole Doucet, Home Visitor, discuss Community Teamwork’s Home Visiting Program with Ted Panos, WCAP980 Radio.

Locations

James Houlares Early Learning Center

126 Phoenix Ave.

Lowell, MA 01852

978.454.5100

Lowell Collaborative Preschool Academy

554 Pawtucket St.

Lowell, MA 01854

978.454.3350

Toddler Corner

The Children’s Village at the Mill