Head Start
“Action Pathways Head Start is committed to providing quality early childhood education to our community’s bright young learners to prepare them with the social and emotional skills necessary for public school. To do so, we rely on a large staff of committed, passionate professionals, dedicated parents and relatives, and volunteers like YOU.”
Find Your Center
We have several Head Start centers throughout Cumberland County, each strategically located to best serve our communities. We provide transportation within a five mile radius of each Head Start center. Early Head Start facilities do not provide child transportation services.
How to Apply
The program is designed to prepare eligible children with essential skills needed to enter the public school system. Head Start is FREE to eligible participants. To begin the application process, you will need to provide a few key documents.
Our Program
We serve approximately 1,000 families each year, and take our commitment to each child’s success very seriously. There is no greater joy than seeing a classroom light up with smiling faces.
Community Resources
As part of our comprehensive approach, our staff provides parents and guardians with resources that extend beyond early childhood education. Please contact your child’s Family Advocate for more information.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
The USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is an important part of the nutrition services provided through the Action Pathways, Inc. Head Start Program. CACFP supports the health, wellness, growth, and development of children by helping provide access to nutritious, well-balanced meals and snacks while children are in care.
Action Pathways Head Start follows CACFP meal pattern requirements when planning and serving meals and snacks. These meal patterns are designed to provide children with a variety of foods that support healthy growth and development while helping children develop positive eating habits at an early age.
CACFP meals and snacks incorporate the required meal components, as applicable to the meal or snack being served, including milk, vegetables, fruits, grains, and meat/meat alternates. Our menus emphasize a variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grain-rich foods, appropriate milk choices based on the child’s age, and a variety of nutritious meat and meat alternate options. CACFP meal patterns also support limiting added sugars and saturated fats and encourage healthy food choices appropriate for young children.
Through CACFP, children have opportunities to experience a variety of nutritious foods while developing healthy eating habits that can support their overall well-being. Nutritious meals and snacks also help provide children with the nourishment they need to participate, learn, play, and grow throughout the program day.
Nutrition education is extended to families to strengthen the connection between healthy eating at Head Start and healthy practices at home. By combining nutritious meals and snacks, positive mealtime experiences, and family nutrition education, Action Pathways Head Start promotes a comprehensive approach to children’s health and nutrition.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Health Services
Health Services within the Head Start program focus on preventing health problems whenever possible by carefully addressing the needs of enrolled children. The Head Start program ensures children have an ongoing source of health care that can be accessed long after a child leaves Head Start. We understand that healthy children are more successful in school.
Our Impact By the Numbers for Head Start Participants 2021-2022 School Year
Provided for Head Start children