Rapid City Prenatal to Five Head Start
What is Head Start?
Head Start and Early Head Start are federally-funded child development programs that serve low-income children from prenatal to age 5 and their families. The overall goal of the programs is to increase the social competence of young children and the self-sufficiency of families. Youth & Family Services recognizes the parent as the child's primary educator, nurturer and advocate of their child. YFS has sponsored Head Start services in the Rapid City area since 1984. All services are free of charge for participants who qualify.
Programs are for families who meet federal household income guidelines or have a child with disabilities. Among the services offered are preschool education, dental exams and follow-up, screening and developmental testing, parent education, transportation, services for children with disabilities and their families, family-oriented counseling, family literacy, alcohol and drug dependency prevention, family self-sufficiency and health screening.
YFS has two Head Start programs:
- Rapid City Prenatal to Five Head Start
- Rural Prenatal to Five Head Start (active in eight counties in western South Dakota)
About the Rapid City Head Start Program
Rapid City Prenatal to Five Head Start provides social competency and school readiness activities in a preschool environment. Rapid City Prenatal to Five Head Start teachers work with children to develop their skills in the eight educational domains as well as on individual goals for each child. Curriculum and activities are carefully designed to be fun and developmentally appropriate. Family Services Specialists support parents to increase family self-sufficiency. Head Start offers 3 and 1/2 hour sessions, four days a week. Morning or afternoon options are available. Breakfast, lunch and/or a snack are offered in all sessions.
Locations
To find the address, telelphone numbers, or see a map of our center-based facilities in Rapid City, please visit our Contact Page.
Transportation
Rapid City Prenatal to Five Head Start will assist as many families as possible who need transportation.
Cost/Eligibility
Enrollment in Head Start is based on age and income. Children must be age 3 or 4 on or before Sept. 1, to be enrolled. Income guidelines are established by the federal government each year. The program is designed for children from low-income families or children with disabilities.
Download Application
You can download and print the Head Start application online.
(The application requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be obtained here.)
