School Readiness Programs

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Head Start is a federally funded program which provides FREE, comprehensive, high-quality child care and early education services, as well as home-based programs, for eligible families in the Morris County community.  All services are provided to eligible families without regard to race, religion, gender identification or ethnicity.  Program staff are bilingual and speak English and Spanish.

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Two program sites serve children with school-year and summer programs: 

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• Head Start Community Program of Morris County

      18 Thompson Avenue Dover NJ 07801 (program headquarters)​

 

• Robert C. Grant Head Start Center of Morris County

      1 Medical Drive Morris Plains, NJ (at Morris County Central Park complex)

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Public Pre-K partnerships provide free classroom placements for children living in the following school districts:

 

• Dover – program follows Dover school schedule

• Morris School District – program follows Morris School District school schedule

• Wharton Borough Public Schools – program located in Dover; follows Dover school schedule

• Mine Hill Township School District– program located in Dover; follows Dover school schedule

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Early Head Start center-based programs are available at the Dover location, and free provide full-day child care for children ages 18 months to 3 years old, 11 months per year, from the end of August through the end of July.

 

Early Head Start home-based programs serve families year-round, providing free early childhood and family support services, including home visits, socialization and resources, for expectant mothers and infants from birth through 18 months of age. 

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Extended Care Programs Dover/Morris Plains

 

In collaboration with Child and Family Resources (https://cfrmorris.org/), extended care (after-school care until 6:00PM) programs are available to our families in both Head Start program locations.

 

Applicants for the extended care programs must qualify for subsidy services through the NJ Child Care Assistance Program (https://www.childcarenj.gov/Parents/CCAP). Any cost or fees will be determined after approval of application.

 

Required Documents for subsidy extended care program applications:

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●       Copy of the child’s Social Security card

●       Proof of Family Income and parents’ hours worked (25 hours 

          minimum weekly)

●       Proof of address (utility bill)

●       Parent Identification

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Comprehensive Family Services

 

Our comprehensive services meet the needs of the whole child and family.

 

• Free, nutritious meals are provided to children at our centers, along with diapers as needed. 

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• Children are screened for disabilities and all children with special needs receive appropriate services.  

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• Our popular Fatherhood Initiative, funded in part by the County of Morris, provides monthly education and support programs for fathers or adult male family members of Head Start and Early Head Start children. 

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• A research-based parenting curriculum from Vanderbilt University Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL), Positive Solutions for Families, is offered to all Head Start and Early Head Start families, with sessions and activities throughout the school year.  The program is based on the nationally recognized Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children, and aligns with our program-wide approach to positive behavior supports for children's social emotional development.

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• Our innovative Early Language and Literacy Program provides monthly literacy messages for families, along with new, high-quality bilingual children's books, helping families build home libraries and develop the habit of enjoying books with their children daily.  Services are provided free of charge to enrolled families, and communications are provided in the home language of families served.

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• We ensure that pregnant women and enrolled children have health insurance and access to free or low-cost medical and dental care and that any medical/dental issues that are diagnosed are treated.   

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• Families in need are referred to the local Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which provides health services to pregnant women, breastfeeding women, non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants and children.  Benefits provided are supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education, counseling, and screening and referrals to other health, welfare and social services. WIC provides services in nearby locations in Dover, Boonton and Morristown. WIC is by appointment only from the hours of 9:30am to 2:00pm. To make an appointment, call (973) 754-4575.