Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to 5 from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development. In Bergen and Passaic Counties, Greater Bergen Community Action serves over 1,200 families at early childhood development centers throughout the region. Head Start programs provide comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families which include health, nutrition, social services and other services determined to be necessary by family needs assessments, in addition to education and cognitive development services. Head Start services are designed to be responsive to each child and family’s ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage. Greater Bergen Community Action also provides Early Head Start, which serves infants, toddlers, pregnant women and their families who have incomes below the federal poverty level. Greater Bergen Head Start and Early Head Start implements a school readiness plan that focuses on five essential domains outlined in The Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework. This plan identifies elements that align with both the NJ Preschool Standards and Creative Curriculum Objectives for Development and Learning; this alignment helps identify areas that can be monitored and assessed. The plan was developed by staff members in our Education, Health and Social Services areas, along with parents of children in the program and community experts. Once drafted, the plan was reviewed and approved by the Head Start Policy Council. For more information, contact 201-366-2135.