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Head Start Preschool

UCA Head Start is a FREE program serving over 2,000 children each year and has been recognized as the Best Public Preschool in Utah. Head Start provides comprehensive family support and a research-based curriculum to make sure each and every child is able to reach their potential. Our Head Start program is inclusive and welcomes children with disabilities into all of our settings. 90% of a child's brain develops between birth and age 4. Set your child up for success by ensuring their development is supported when it matters most.

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Services & Benefits

Head Start is more than a preschool. Head Start (ages 3-5) and Early Head Start (ages 0-3) provide high-quality education, healthy meals, medical and dental screenings, and holistic support for the whole family to prepare your child for Kindergarten and beyond!

Award-winning Education
Health and Dental Services
Healthy Meals
Support for the Whole Family

Award-winning Education

Our Head Start program has gained state and national recognition for our holistic program which includes social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development as well as school readiness. We focus on language development, literacy skills, and mathematics knowledge—numbers, shapes, measurement, patterns, and other traditional mathematical problems—to prepare graduates to excel in kindergarten and beyond. Head Start is an inclusive preschool setting with 10% of our program reserved for children with disabilities to be served in an inclusive classroom setting.

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Health and Dental Services

All Head Start students receive mental health support as well as preventive screenings and exams—immunizations, physical and dental exams, vision and hearing screenings. Children also receive developmental and social-emotional screenings to assess developmental milestones and the need for additional supports.

Healthy Meals

Head Start children receive free healthy meals, made fresh daily in our Central Kitchen and delivered to our sites. These meals meet at least two-thirds of children’s daily nutritional needs not only for their health and well-being but for their intellectual and social development. Dietary accommodations are available.

Support for the Whole Family

At Head Start, we support the whole family. From connecting you with other parents and offering parenting courses to assessing additional needs your family may have, our team is here to support you however we can. Family advocates, teachers and parents work together to engage children and achieve both family and child goals.

Eligibility

By Age

Head Start and Early Head Start accept applications year-round for children 0-5. Head Start also offers a prenatal program for expectant mothers. Children do not need to be potty-trained to be eligible.

By Income

Parents or caregivers who make 100% or less of the federal poverty level are eligible for services. Children with disabilities or foster children are still eligible if parents or caregivers make more than the federal poverty level.

By location
Utah Community Action’s Head Start program serves Salt Lake and Tooele Counties.

Head Start is an equal opportunity program and does not discriminate against race, religion, or sex. Utah Community Action does not deny placement on the basis of a disability or its severity to any child. We do not provide transportation for students, however, assistance with carpooling or bus/TRAX vouchers are available.

FAQ English FAQ Spanish

What to Expect

Applications for Head Start and Early Head Start are accepted year-round. Apply early to secure your spot on the waitlist!

  • Step 1

    Complete our easy online application in 10 minutes or less!

  • Step 2

    Schedule your phone appointment with our enrollment team to finish the process.

  • Step 3

    Your child will be placed in a classroom once there is availability. Availability varies. We recommend applying early to help speed up the process.

How to Apply

Documentation

  • Verification of the child’s age (Birth Certificate and/or Medicaid card, baptism or blessing certificate, Foster Care placement letter, Hospital Certificate, I-94 or passport.)
  • Child’s immunization record
  • Proof of income for the previous 12 months (tax forms for the previous year are preferred, W-2 forms, check stubs, child support, unemployment, Social Security or military income, etc.)
  • Proof of Residence (Recent copy of utility bill, rental agreement or mortgage statement in parent’s name that lists the address.)
  • Additional Documents: If available, please also prepare a copy of your child’s most recent physical and dental exam (completed in the last 12 months), as well as medical and dental provider information.
  • If currently receiving Public Assistance – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Family Employment Program (FEP), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), bring a copy of the award letter or MyCase printout.

Head Start Locations

Find a Head Start location near you. At this time, classrooms aren't open to the public for the safety of our staff and clients. If you need to speak with a staff member, fill out the form below.

Follow-up

If you would like to apply for our Head Start program, please complete the application above in our 'How to Apply' section by clicking 'Complete the Application' and then choose your preferred language in order to apply. If you have already applied for our Head Start program and need an update on the status of your application, or have other questions about Head Start, fill out the form below and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

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