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Head Start Community Partnerships

Stronger Together

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Your organization can help Head Start families access the support they need

When families have access to the support they need, entire communities thrive. But no single organization can meet every need a family may face.

That's why local Head Start programs partner with organizations like yours to connect families with services and resources that strengthen families and meet their needs.

Become a Head Start Community Partner

Whether your organization provides healthcare, mental health services, food assistance, workforce development, financial coaching or other family-centered services, your expertise can make an even greater impact through a Head Start partnership.

Together, you can help more families access the support they need.

Head Start Connects the Pieces

Supporting the Whole Family

Head Start Connected Services

Head Start is a federally funded early childhood education program that supports children from birth to age five and pregnant women, while partnering with parents and community organizations to build strong, healthy families.

Through this whole-family approach, Head Start supports both child development and family well-being—helping break down barriers and strengthen the entire household.

But Head Start programs can’t do it alone.

Why Community Partnerships Matter

Families don't experience challenges one at a time.

  • A parent may be looking for stable housing while searching for a job.
  • A child may need dental care while a caregiver is looking for mental health support.
  • A family may need help accessing food assistance while working toward greater financial stability.

These needs are connected. So are the solutions.

Formal partnerships between Head Start programs and community organizations create stronger referral networks, better coordination of care and easier access to services for families. When organizations work together, families spend less time navigating systems and more time getting the help they need.

  • Connect Families

    Connect families with resources and services that meet their individual needs.

  • Make Access Easier

    Create trusted pathways that make it easier for families to find and access support.

  • Reduce Barriers

    Help remove barriers that can keep families from getting the support they need.

  • Strengthen Coordination

    Build stronger connections among organizations serving the same children and families.

  • Support the Whole Family

    Support children’s development by strengthening the well-being of the entire family.

  • Build Stronger Communities

    Work together toward shared goals that help families and communities thrive.

Partnership in Action

There's no one-size-fits-all partnership. Every community is different. Every organization has something different to offer. Depending on your services and your community's needs, a partnership might include:

Referrals & Intakes icon.

Referrals & Intakes

Connect families with your services.

On-Site Services icon.

On-Site Services

Bring services directly to families.

Education & Workshops icon.

Education & Workshops

Share information and tools with caregivers.

Health Screenings icon.

Health Screenings

Provide screenings and assessments.

Resource Events icon.

Resource Events

Participate in family and community events.

Specialized Support icon.

Specialized Support

Bring your organization's unique expertise.

Every Partnership Is Unique

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to partnership. Your organization may have a different way to help—and that’s okay.

Your local Head Start program will work with you to explore opportunities that align your organization’s strengths and mission with the needs of families in your community, strengthening the work you’re already doing together.

Community partners share how working with Head Start helps extend their impact

Stronger Together, In Their Words

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  • We greatly value our partnership with Early Head Start. Their organization and coordination make it easier for us to provide lead screening for children. By working together, we help foster healthier families and give children a stronger start in life.
    Elias Munoz Outreach Coordinator · Marion County Public Health Department
  • Partnering with the Early Head Start Program has helped countless children have the opportunity for better sight. Through screenings, we can identify eye issues that schools and parents may be unaware of, helping children get the care they need.
    Sarah Getts District 25 F KidSight Coordinator · Lions International
  • Through our partnership with Early Head Start, families learn skills they can take home to prepare healthy, nutritious meals. Participants cook alongside us and receive ingredients to recreate meals at home, supporting healthy eating habits and family engagement.
    Megan Gendig Director of Cooking Matters Program · Indy Hunger Network
  • Our partnership with Early Head Start has been extremely valuable. Insights from teachers and early education professionals have helped shape how we communicate with parents, while Early Head Start’s advocacy for lead testing has served as a model for other child care centers.
    Paul Krievins Division Director for Lead and Healthy Homes · Indiana State Department of Health
  • We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Head Start. Access to quality child care and referrals helps mothers focus on recovery while their children are in nurturing environments. Partnerships like this remove barriers and create stronger opportunities for families.
    Taylor Schumacher Children’s Referral Coordinator · Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana
  • Through our partnership with Early Head Start, we provide fresh, nutritious food to families while connecting them with additional support. By working together, we can reach families in a way that feels natural and supportive and help give children a healthier start.
    Adriane Rios Director of Partner Relations · Second Helpings
  • Partnering with Early Head Start allows us to better protect and support local families. Together, we’ve provided lead testing and screenings and promoted nutrition resources, helping ensure families have a safe, healthy environment where they can thrive.
    Corey Dea ChroDisease Prevention Specialist · Marion County Public Health Department Chronic Disease
  • Quality early childhood education and child care are foundational to women’s economic success. Our partnership helps connect families to critical resources that support both child development and family stability, creating stronger outcomes for women, children and the community.
    Kate Roelecke Director of Operations & Impact · Dress for Success
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Ready to Partner?

Your organization is committed to helping Indiana families thrive. Head Start is ready to explore how to support families together.

Complete the Community Partner Interest Form, and your local Head Start program will contact you to start the conversation.

Together, let's expand access to the resources families need and create brighter futures across Indiana.

Complete the Community Partner Interest Form

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who can become a Head Start community partner?

    Organizations that serve children, parents, caregivers or families in any capacity. This may include healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, nonprofits, government agencies, educational institutions, financial empowerment organizations and many others.

  • Is there a cost to partner?

    No. Partnerships are built around shared goals and mutual benefit. Your local Head Start program will work with you to determine what collaboration looks like.

  • What happens after I submit the interest form?

    Your information will be shared with the Head Start program serving your community. They'll reach out to learn more about your organization and discuss partnership opportunities in support of families enrolled in their early learning program.

  • What if we've never worked with Head Start before?

    That's okay! Many successful partnerships begin with a conversation. Your local program will help identify opportunities that align with your organization's mission and services.

  • Do we need to offer services specifically for children?

    No. Head Start takes a whole-family approach to supporting children’s learning and development, which means community partners can support children, parents, caregivers or the family as a whole.