Albany Community Action Partnership
Administrative Offices
333 Sheridan Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
www.albanycap.org

Phone: 518.463.3175
Fax: 518.463.8185
Head Start Fax: 518.432.6504
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Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

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"We at Albany County Head Start believe in the uniqueness, importance, and potential of each individual.  We are committed to nurturing good beginnings and meeting the challenges of growth in families, staff, and community."

Head Start in Albany County was first started as a pilot project in 1965. It started as a permanently-funded activity with Albany Community Action Partnership in 1966.

During the 2007-2008 school year, the Albany Community Action Partnership Head Start Program served 469 children and families including the Home-Based program. In response to the community, there are three enrollment options available.

• Extended day and year classes are available at several Head Star classroom and center locations, for children whose parents work or attend school or training.
• Our most recent expansion site offers full day and year services to more than thirty (30+) three year old children through a collaboration with a local day care agency.

Head Start provides comprehensive health, nutrition, dental, mental health, parent involvement, education and family services.  Center-based children receive two-thirds of the recommended daily nutritional allowances through the breakfast and lunch provided at Head Start. Thirty percent (30%) of the enrolled children are diagnosed with disabilities and a full range of inclusive special education services are available.

• Have up-to-date immunizations
• Receive a complete annual health physical
• Receive annual hearing and vision screenings
• Receive annual dental screenings and indicated follow-up dental work
• Receive developmental education screenings and recommendations

A large number of our current staff are former Head Start parents. These individuals simultaneously fulfill a vital role in their child's life and experience improved economic circumstances.

As you know, Head Start programs create positive long-lasting outcomes by meeting critical needs and offering families new possibilities. Research shows that children who attend high quality, comprehensive, early childhood programs:

• require 90% fewer special educational services;
• have 45% lower adolescent pregnancy rates;
• have 30% lower juvenile delinquency rate;
• have higher employment rates as adults;
• have higher literacy;
• are less likely to be on welfare;
• are more likely to attend college;
• and are significantly more likely to own a home.

For every $1.00 we spend on a child in a Head Start program, we save $7.12 in future remediation costs alone. Head Start not only helps participants change the quality of their family's lives, it also helps the community.

The ACAP's Head Start Program depends on community support. The program must meet a 25% matching funds requirement. It is essential that resource use is maximized to ensure the optimal and efficient provision of essential services.

For more information on Head Start in Albany County, click here for details on individual centers, or contact the center nearest you, or call 518-463-3175.

If you would like to begin the Head Start application process to see if you qualify to enroll your child, you can download the Application Instruction Sheet, and the Application Form.
**The Head Start application forms will open in Adobe Acrobat format.