For over 40 years, Casa Central has been providing Head Start programming to the community. In order to respond to the changing needs in early childhood education, this September Casa Central has expanded services into Early Head Start programming. Our Home-Based Head Start program now serves children 0-5 and our Center-Based Head Start program serves children 2-5. Working with children 0-3, Casa Central provides support to very young children by engaging with parents and educating them on their role in the areas of early childhood development and healthy growth.
Recently, Casa Central also centralized services of its Center-Based program. Casa Central now provides full-day and half-day Head Start and IDHS childcare year-round from our main facility in Humboldt Park. Both the Center-Based and Home-Based programs are part of the agency’s Early Learning Academy, which ensures that children can successfully transition into kindergarten. Services are bilingual and bicultural, focusing on education in the areas of math, literacy, language, and social-emotional development. Currently serving 250 children, the Early Learning Academy provides much needed support by integrating families into the community, providing childcare while parents work, and promoting the idea of parents as teachers.
With its long history in early childhood education, Casa Central offers a base for many throughout their lives. “These children go on to Casa Central’s School Age Program and Youth Opportunities Unlimited program. Many have stayed with Casa Central for over a decade,” Amanda McMillen, Deputy Director at Casa Central, said. “We become the participants’ extended family.”
To learn more about the program or inquire about eligibility, please contact 773-645-2300 or eligibility@casacentral.org.