YWCA Early Head Start
In 2015, The YWCA was awarded a five-year renewable Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. With this grant, the YWCA is able to provide year-round child care for children ages 6 weeks to 3 years (including those with disabilities) whose families are homeless and/or live below the poverty line. We are also able to provide comprehensive child development and family support services as part of this program. In March of 2019, the YWCA was awarded an additional 1M 5-year combined grant for Early Head Start Childcare Partnership and Early Head Start Expansion services. This allows for the YWCA to serve an additional 68 children in Stark County.
In 2021, 292 children participated in the YWCA Early Head Start through the original grant and expansion grant.
Early Head Start Enrollment
The YWCA Early Head Start is currently enrolling children aged 6 weeks to 3 years including infants and toddlers with disabilities. Enrolled children and families are provided with classroom environments that encourage age appropriate exploration, developmentally appropriate lessons, developmental screenings upon enrollment, as needed, and much more!
High quality child care is available through Early Head Start for children in Stark County through six child care partner sites and two in-home family providers in Stark County including Alliance, Canton and Massillon.
We offer locations throughout Stark County, including:
YWCA Canton Early Childhood Learning Center
231 6th St. NE Canton, OH 44702 | 330-453-7644
First Baptist Nursery School & Child Care Center
1659 W. State St. Alliance, OH 44601 | 330-823-3118
JRC Learning Center
2213 14th St, NE Canton, OH 44705 | 330-452-8376
OakPark Preschool
2446 Lincoln Way E., Massillon, OH 44646 | 330-830-1400
The Stuckey Family Interfaith Child Development Center
205 S. Union Ave. Alliance, OH 44601 | 330-821-1377
Artful Family Enrichment Center
702 Raff Rd. SW Canton, OH 44710 | 330-477-6749
Gail’s Family Child Care
7100 Pinecrest St. NE Canton, OH 44721 | 330-492-9544
Alice Kirksey Family Child Care
1370 Lambert St. Alliance, OH 44601 | 330-823-3208
Some of the many services the program offers are included below:
Education and Child Development Services
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Researched based curriculum and assessments
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Highly qualified teachers
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Nutritious meals
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Disabilities services
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School readiness screenings
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Parent inclusion in child’s individualized teaching plans, etc.
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Transportation
Health Program Services
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Child health screenings
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Oral health practice education and resources
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Child nutrition, etc.
Family and Community Engagement Services
Community resources from partnered organizations for services for children with disabilities, early childhood education and other education programs
As part of the comprehensive services provided for children and families in the Early Head Start program, the Canton City Health Department and the YWCA Early Head Start program are working together to perform health screenings on children 6 weeks to 3 years of age enrolled in the EHS program.
Screening includes recording height and weight, vision and hearing assessment, lead and hemoglobin testing and dental screening. The nurses from the health department also review immunization records and will advise parents if additional shots are needed.
A child must be an infant or a toddler younger than three years old
A child is eligible if any of the below apply:
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The family’s income is equal to or below the poverty line
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The family is eligible for, or, in the absence of child care, would be potentially eligible for public assistance; including TANF child-only payments
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The child is homeless, as defined in part 1305
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The child is in foster care