Eligibility – Child Start, Inc.

Welcome and thank you for your interest in our program!

Please review the information below to see if you and your child may qualify for Head Start or Early Head Start.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, applicants must meet age requirements and either income or categorical eligibility criteria.

Age Eligibility

Early Head Start (EHS): Pregnant women or children 0–36 months old
Head Start (HS): Children 3–5 years old who are not yet eligible for Kindergarten

Income Eligibility

Families qualify if their gross annual income is at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Some families above the income limit may still qualify, including:

Children with disabilities and a current IFSP (Individualized Family Services Plan) or IEP (Individualized Education Plan).

Categorical Eligibility (automatic eligibility regardless of income)

Your family qualifies if any of the following apply:

Child is in Foster Care
Family receives CalWORKs (TANF) cash aid
Family receives CalFresh (SNAP)
A parent/guardian or household member receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Family is experiencing homelessness

How to Apply

If you have applied before or had another child in a Child Start program, please do not reapply online. Instead:

Download and complete the fillable PDF application, or
Call us at 1-866-573-4274, or
Submit a hard copy by email erseateam@childstartinc.org or in person at any center during business hours.

Documents You’ll Need

To help us process your application quickly, please include:

Proof of your child’s birth date (Birth Certificate, Passport, Hospital or Social Services Letter, Visa, Residence Card, Refugee documentation, etc.)
Proof of household income (Form 1040 tax return, W-2s, pay stubs, etc.)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Statement (if applicable)
Foster Care Statement (if applicable)
TANF/CalWORKs or SNAP/CalFresh Notice (if applicable)

Important: If your household has two parents/guardians, we will need proof of income from both.

After You Apply

Online applicants will receive an email confirmation from ChildPlus.
Paper applicants will receive a confirmation letter within 7 business days of submission.
Applications are kept on file until your child is no longer age-eligible (up to age 5).
Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance.
Priority is given to families who are categorically eligible and/or meet federal poverty guidelines.

Quick Eligibility Checklist

Your family may qualify for Head Start / Early Head Start if:

Age

Income

Automatic Eligibility

You qualify if your family:

Apply online today