The East Orange Child Development Corporation Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age five. In addition to education services, programs provide children and their families with health, nutrition, social, and other services. Head Start services are responsive to each child and family's ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage.

EOCDC also provides social services to low-income East Orange families. These services include family counseling, advocacy, continuing education, special services to disabled children, and making the community more responsive to the needs of EOCDC families, in addition, EOCDC requires medical and dental examinations, immunizations, and vision and hearing screenings for the enrollees. Mental health counseling services are available to EOCDC, families through our mental health counselor. Nutrition needs are met daily by serving breakfast, snacks, and a well-balanced hot lunch.

Early Head Start Program
East Orange Child Development Corporation’s Early Head Start offers a free school readiness program for infants and toddlers ages 0-3 at centers throughout the city of East Orange. EHS promotes positive early learning experiences to foster children’s intellectual, social, and emotional development and lay the foundation for later school success. In addition to delivering comprehensive early childhood education, this program also focuses on providing health, nutrition, mental health, and social services to children and their families, all at no cost.

Head Start Program
East Orange Child Development Corporation’s Head Start program offers a free preschool program for children ages 3-5 at centers throughout the city of East Orange. Our federally funded Head Start program delivers services to children and families in core areas of early learning, health, and family well-being while engaging parents as partners along the way. Our philosophy is that children learn best when their parents are involved in their learning.

Home-Based Services
Our home-based services allow children and parents in East Orange to receive many Early Head Start Services right in their own homes for free. A home visitor provides child-focused visits weekly that promote the parents' ability to support their child's development. Together, the home visitors and parents create ways to help the child develop through parent-child interactions and daily routines. In addition to weekly home visits, families will take part in group socialization and activities.

Pregnant Moms Program
Our Pregnant Moms Program provides support and resources to expecting mothers residing in East Orange. As a part of the Early Head Start Program, it is a federally funded program free for eligible families. We aim to help pregnant women prepare for motherhood, assisting them in obtaining proper prenatal care to ensure their unborn child’s healthy growth and development. EOCDC’s Pregnant Moms Program gives expecting mothers education on how to have a healthy pregnancy, supports them through postpartum care, and provides nurturing care and learning experiences to their infants.

Community Services

Education Early Childhood Education Educational Services Public School School-Based Services Family & Support Services Family Support Pregnancy / Teen Pregnancy

Last Updated: 02/20/23