To Our Clients: Please visit our COVID-19 page for program information and updates.

How You Can Help: Support our COVID-19 response for under-served children and families. Learn More


Heartfelt thanks to the generous sponsors of our COVID-19 response funds.

  • Anonymous (2)
  • Benjamin and Anne Bahr
  • Manju and Narindra Bewtra
  • Booth Ferris Foundation
  • The Carson Family Charitable Trust
  • Cathay Bank Foundation
  • Cigna
  • Garrett D'Alessandro and Amy Rappaport
  • Barbara Deli, M.D. and Neeraj Bewtra
  • The Edith Glick Shoolman Children's Foundation
  • Flushing Bank
  • Jeffrey Gage
  • Trudy Elbaum Gottesman and Robert Gottesman+
  • D’Arcy and Peter Green
  • Patricia and Richard Jay
  • Alexander Jesurum
  • Michael Kuharski and Allison Davi
  • Corina Larkin and Nigel Dawn
  • Anne Marie Macari
  • Marsh & McLennan Agency
  • Jennifer Milacci and Marc Scher
  • Barbara and Conner Mulvee
  • Organization Analysis & Design
  • Dave Pottruck*
  • Robin Hood+
  • Gelvina Rodriguez Stevenson
  • Gail Roseman
  • Nell Shanahan Schwartz and Adam Schwartz
  • Shames Family Foundation
  • The Melanie and Alan Stein Family
  • Sterling National Bank
  • Leo Swergold
  • Techworks Consulting, Inc.
  • The New York Community Trust
  • United Way
  • US Pacific Transport, Inc.
  • J. Sean Withrow

*Emergency Response Fund sponsor
+COVID-19 Response Fund and Emergency Response Fund Sponsor
Sponsor list in formation as of July 23

Head Start / EarlyLearn NYC

Our Head Start centers provide low-income children ages 3 to 5 with a safe, stimulating environment that encourages cognitive, social, and emotional development. We emphasize hands-on, play-based learning that teaches children academic concepts in ways that make sense to them and get them excited about school.
We also support parents as primary caregivers so that they are able to encourage their children’s development on their own. All of our sites serve breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack. We instill healthy habits both by teaching about them in the classroom in hands-on activities — such as growing vegetables — and by offering food that’s cooked on the premises and exceeds nutritional requirements. We also support children's physical health through a unique collaboration with Northwell Health, New York's largest health care provider, and by offering in-person and virtual pediatric care through a partnership with Strong Children Wellness. Our programs have been recognized by National Head Start as a model program for implementing best practices for dual-language learners; by the Department of Education and NYC Administration for Children’s Services for our exemplary approach in supporting the emotional wellness of children; and by Bank Street College of Education, which selected one of our programs to be featured in an iBook series as a model of social-emotional development integration. Centers operate Monday-Friday, full-day, year-round, and on holidays. We accept children through a variety of funding sources, including Universal Pre-K, EarlyLearn NYC, and child care subsidies. Please see our latest Head Start annual report for more information about our Head Start programs.

Apply

Apply for enrollment in any of our Head Start/EarlyLearn or Early Head Start programs.
Corona Head Start/EarlyLearn Program 34-10 108th Street Corona, NY 11368 Phone: 347-287-0175 Fax: 347-287-0172
  • Senior Program Director: Lillian Rodriguez-Magliaro, lillianrodriguez@childcenterny.org
  • Educational Coordinator: Lorena Ramirez, lorenaramirez@childcenterny.org
  • Hours: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Fee: Based upon family income and program enrollment
  • Special services: Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) for 4-year-olds; early childhood mental health services, coordination of services for children with special needs, parenting classes, health and nutrition services. This site also offers an Early Head Start program for children ages 0-3.
  • This center has a unique collaboration with Northwell Health, New York's largest health care provider. Northwell physicians and residents provide free primary medical services on site at our center. Learn more in this blog post and in our 2018 Head Start annual report.
  • Ages accepted: 3 to 5 years
  • Languages spoken: English, Spanish, Bengali
  • Public transportation: #7 subway to 103rd or 111 Street, Q48 to 108 Street and 34th Ave
Escalera Head Start 169 West 87th Street New York, NY 10024 Phone: 212-799-2440
  • Program Director: Tracey Elting, traceyelting@childcenterny.org
  • Hours: Mon-Fri: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Fee: Based upon family income and program enrollment
  • Special services: Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) for 4-year-old children; mental health services, parenting classes, health and nutrition services
  • Admission Criteria: Low-income children who live in Manhattan; children with special needs are welcome
  • Ages accepted: 3- and 4-year-olds
  • Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Please read our blog post From Pre-K to K for an inside look at how Escalera prepares its students for kindergarten.
The Ficalora Family Foundation Head Start Center 60-02 Roosevelt Avenue Woodside, NY 11377 Phone: 718-943-2800 Fax: 718-943-2799
  • Educational Director: Marie Mason, mariemason@childcenterny.org
  • Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
  • Fee: Based upon family income and program enrollment
  • Special services: Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) for 4-year-old children, mental health services, parenting classes, health and nutrition services. This site also offers an Early Head Start program for children ages 0-3.
  • This center has a unique collaboration with Northwell Health, New York's largest health care provider. Northwell pediatric residents supervised by physicians provide free medical support on site at our center.
  • Admission Criteria: Low-income children who live in Central Queens and nearby communities; children with special needs are welcome
  • Ages accepted: 3- and 4-year-olds
  • Languages spoken: Bengali, English, Spanish
  • Public Transportation: Subway—#7 to 61st Street Woodside, Buses—Q18, Q32, Q53, Q60, LIRR

Further Reading:

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