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Early Head Start
Mission Statement & Purpose
At ACES Early Head Start, our mission is to foster a future where each individual thrives within resilient communities grounded in authentic connections and secure attachments. We aim to nurture enduring success through comprehensive education, health, and family services.
The purpose of ACES Early Head Start is to utilize and expand the capacity of existing family and child services to ensure infants, toddlers, and their families have access to a comprehensive network of support.
What does Early Head Start (EHS) do?
ACES Early Head Start is a federally funded, community-based program that provides comprehensive support to eligible families with infants and toddlers up to 3 years old, as well as expectant families. Prioritizing families in Middlesex County, the program collaborates with key community partners, including Middlesex Health, Faith Lutheran Church, and Grace Episcopal Church. Services are delivered through a home-based model, ensuring personalized support in a family's natural environment. ACES serves as the grantee, overseeing the administration and implementation of the program.
Core Services
- Home visits for individualized support and early learning experiences
- Comprehensive services for pregnant women and expectant families
- Socialization playgroups to encourage peer interactions and child development
- Family partnerships and goal-setting support to support parents as primary caregivers
- Community partnerships to connect families with additional resources
- Family engagement and leadership opportunities to strengthen parent involvement
- Health and behavioral health services to ensure well-being for children and families
- Developmental screenings to identify and address needs early
- Support for children with special needs and disabilities
- High-quality early education and school readiness programming
- Transition planning to preschool for a smooth educational journey
- Transportation support to enhance accessibility to services
ACES Early Head Start is dedicated to serving all families, including those with young children who have disabilities or developmental delays, ensuring they receive the necessary support in an inclusive and nurturing environment.
*This website is supported by Grant Number 01CH013008 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of Area Cooperative Educational Services and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.
Income Criteria
Eligibility
Expectant families and children from birth to age three who reside in Middlesex County and have incomes below the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for ACES Early Head Start services. Additionally, children experiencing homelessness, those in foster care (regardless of their foster family's income), and children from families receiving public assistance—such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—also qualify for support.
Documentation for Eligibility
Families can verify their income using any of the following: 1040 tax form, W-2, recent payroll stubs, documentation of benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), as well as unemployment or foster care documentation, among others. The program will assess eligibility based on income from the previous calendar year or the past 12 months, depending on the documentation provided.
School Readiness
The Office of Head Start defines school readiness as children possessing the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for success in school and for later learning and life.
ACES Early Head Start Partnership developed nine school readiness goals to align with the five essential developmental domains established by the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework.
I. Social and Emotional Development
- Our infants and toddlers will begin to develop the ability to express and manage emotions in appropriate ways.
- Our infants and toddlers will begin to develop and engage in positive relationships and interactions with adults and peers.
II. Approaches Toward Learning
- Our infants and toddlers will begin to demonstrate interest, curiosity, persistence and eagerness in exploring the world around them.
III. Cognition and General Knowledge
- Our infants and toddlers will learn and begin to use math concepts during daily routines and experiences.
- Our infants and toddlers will begin to use all of their senses to process and explore their environment and demonstrate the ability to remember and connect new and known experiences in their environment.
IV. Language and Literacy Development
- Our infant and toddlers will begin to demonstrate receptive and expressive language skills and communication strategies in their home language(s).
- Our infants and toddlers will begin to learn and demonstrate how print works, and engage with stories and books.
IV. Physical Wellbeing and Motor Development
- Our infants and toddlers will begin to develop and strengthen control over large and small muscles.
- Our infants and toddlers will begin to develop age appropriate self-help skills.
Policy Council
Early Head Start Policy Council is comprised of parents of enrolled children and community representatives, including a member of the ACES Governing Board. The council assists in setting goals, planning programs and approving agency personnel policies and funding requests.
What does Policy Council do?
- Serves as a link between parents, the ACES Governing Board, EHS staff and community partners
- Provides parents with the opportunity to participate in policy making or other decisions about the EHS program along with the ACES Governing Board and community partners
- Reviews and approved personnel policies, as well as staff hiring and changes
- Assists with the annual self-assessment of the EHS program
- Approves program plans
- Helps to develop, review and approve all grant proposals and budget requests
- Helps to establish procedures for hearing and resolving community complaints, along with the ACES Governing Board
Policy Council Members
| Amanda Cistulli | Parent - Vice Chair |
| Betsey Cronin | Community Representative |
| Monique Hennessey | Parent |
| Vincent Loffredo | Middletown BOE/ACES Governing Board Representative |
| Johny Lopez | Parent - Chair |
| Jordan Paisley | Parent |
| Amy Waterman | Community Representative |
Policy Council reports monthly to the ACES Governing Board. These reports are part of the ACES Governing Board meeting minutes.
Contact Us
Key Contact Information
ACES Early Head Start Program Coordinator:
Heather Granja
Office Number:
(860) 704-0725
Address:
300 Washington Street
Middletown, CT 06457
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