Young Families Early Head Start is a comprehensive child development center that supports the parent as the child's first teacher, honors the whole child as part of a family system, and encourages family self-sufficiency. Young Families Early Head Start encourages the unique and individual development of the child, the family, and staff, and the community, and honors the individual regardless of strengths or challenges.

Description:
We provide no-cost childcare for low income families with children prenatally through age three. We provide these families with the tools and resources to become self-sufficient, productive members of our community. We also provide parenting education classes; which high school parents can take for credit through School District #2.

The Child Development Center is currently providing center-based child care services to 40 infants and toddlers (0-3 year-olds) whose primary parent is attending high school, adult education, or working. During the summer, many of our high school parents participate in a home-based option, in which they receive weekly home visits.

History:
Young Families Early Head Start began in 1984 as a program to support teenage parents completing their high school education. With the inclusion of Early Head Start in 1999, a comprehensive approach to providing services to infants and toddlers and their families became the focus of the program.

We require all interested families to submit an application, and points are assigned to each application based on the need for services. Ten percent of the child care slots have been set aside for childcare / socialization needs of children with disabilities. These families work closely with our Part C provider, Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) under an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).

Contact people:

Calvin Spangler, Exceutive Director, (phone), (email) Monica Anderson, Family Development Specialist, (phone), (email) Jeri Cuellar, Health&Wellness Specialist, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: 406-259-4901

Address:

1020 Cook Avenue Billings, MT 59102 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

Young Families Early Head Start is located at 1020 Cook Ave. on the cornor of 10th Street west and Cook Avenue.   Nearest Bus Stop: 1/2 block-1 block, 3-4 minute walk