What We Do

At GBCA Head Start/Early Head Start, our goal is to not only get your child ready for kindergarten, but to prepare your entire family for life beyond the program. Our extensive services and resources range from early childhood education to health, nutrition, parent education, family counseling, financial counseling, and more.

Making an Impact

96%

KIDS THAT DEVELOPED SKILLS TO USE TOOLS/TECHNOLOGY

94%

KIDS THAT IDENTIFY AND NAME LETTERS

92%

KIDS THAT MASTERED FINE MOTOR SKILLS

91%

KIDS THAT USE AND EXPANDED VOCABULARY

88%

KIDS THAT DEVELOPED COUNTING SKILLS

81%

KIDS THAT IDENTIFY OBJECTS AND SHAPES

How We Do It

Education

Every day at GBCA Head Start and Early Head Start, infants, toddlers and children enjoy activities and games that follow a research-based curriculum that aligns with NJ State licensing standards and is designed to teach everything from letters and numbers to sharing and getting along with others.

Diversity

All of our schools are multilingual and include children and families from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Diversity is celebrated both inside and outside of the classroom.

Nutrition

At mealtimes, students eat delicious, nutritious, USDA-approved meals from a menu prepared by our in-house registered dietitians. We also offer 31 specialized menus that can be prepared for students who have dietary restrictions due to allergies or cultural needs.

Special Needs

Children with disabilities are a welcome part of our program. Parents, teachers, and specialists all work together to develop a unique program for each child, both in the classroom and at home.

Health

All Head Start students are given free health, dental, vision, and height and weight screenings by medical professionals within the first 45 days of beginning the program. They are then referred to health services of the highest quality right in their own communities.

Support

Each family is assigned its own family worker, and together they create a family Partnership Plan, which helps them identify life goals and the steps needed to accomplish them.