Houston Gateway Academy Head Start

The Gulf Coast Community Services Association’s (GCCSA) Early Head Start Program is a federally funded comprehensive program serving eligible pregnant women infants and toddlers.

GCCSA acquired the Early Head Start Program in September 2002. The program is funded to serve eighty-four (84) pregnant women infants and toddlers within zip codes 77020 and 77026 in the Fifth Ward Area of Houston Harris County Texas. It currently operates a home-based program option; providing Early Head Start services of education family involvement health family literacy fatherhood initiative

mental health services and nutrition to children with disabilities in the families’ homes. Home-based teachers conduct home visits once a week with a socialization activity occurring twice a month.

History

In 1964 under the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson the federal government asked a panel of child development experts to draw up a program to help communities overcome the handicap of disadvantaged preschool children. The findings of that panel report became the blueprint for Project Head Start. The Office of Economic Opportunity first launched Head Start as an eight-week summer program in 1965. It was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional social health nutritional and psychological needs.

Today Head Start is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services. Head Start has had a strong impact on communities and early childhood programs across our country serving families from over 1500 community-based organizations.

Mission

Mission Statement:

“The Gulf Coast Community Services Association Early Head Start Programs strives to empower eligible families by providing comprehensive quality programs which are child-centered and family-focused that will result in social competence school readiness and self-sufficiency.”

Vision Statement:

“Empower the Future – Children and Families”

Volunteer Opportunities

GCCSA Head Start / Early Head Start (HS/EHS) is a federally funded program dependant on In-Kind (i.e. donations of time goods and services) to reach our 20% match every year. For our program that amount is almost $5 million. We ask that you donate as much of your time to our program as possible to help reach our in-kind goal. Your generosity even a little bit helps make it possible for our program to continue providing services to children and families in your community.

Child Ages:

3 years - 5 years

Licenses & Accreditations:

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Preschool:

Yes

Hours of Operation:

07:30 AM-04:00 PM - Monday - Friday