Head Start
Preschool is available for children ages 3 to 5.
School Day / Partial Year
- Monday-Thursday
- 7.25 Hours
- Classrooms located in Clinton, Eaton, Ingham and Shiawassee Counties
Lansing School District Blend
- Monday-Thursday, Off on Friday
- 7 Hours
- Classrooms located at Averill, Forestview, Reo, Riddle and Willow
Preschool Plus Child Care
- Monday-Friday
- 10-12 Hours
- Partner sites located on Beginnings Childcare, Cradles to Crayons, Kidtime and Little Blessings
Ready to Enroll? Start Now
Health Services at Head Start
Nursing Staff
- Nursing staff work to link families with a doctor and review children’s health records.
- Complete screenings: vision, hearing, blood lead, hemoglobin and blood pressure
- Offer parents chances to get health and safety information
- Promote health and safety practices in the program
Nutritionist
- Visits the classroom to ensure children are served nourishing meals and snacks which meet federal nutrition guidelines
- Consults with parents of children with food allergies or other special dietary needs in order to plan appropriate substitutions
- Visits the classrooms to weigh and measure the children to screen for growth patterns which may be of nutritional concern
- Available to meet with parents who have questions or concerns related to their child’s eating
Oral Health Coordinator
- Assists families with their child’s dental needs
- Follows up on initial dental exams and referrals
- Provides Oral Health trainings for staff, parents and the community
Nutrition at Head Start
Meals at Head Start
Meals at Head Start are served in a relaxed “family style” setting, with children and adults eating together. Children serve themselves (as able) and are allowed to choose from what is offered at the table. Children are encouraged to try all foods, but are not pressured or forced to eat or taste.
- A variety of food is served which broadens each child’s food experiences.
- Children in school day classrooms receive breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack.
- Individual care is provided to meet special dietary needs.
- Lesson plans include food and nutrition-related activities.
Monthly Menus and Recipes
Meals served at Head Start follow the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program. Learn more by downloading the following:
- CACFP Parent Information Sheet (English)
- CACFP Parent Information Sheet (Spanish)
- Non-discrimination statement
CACS offers two food plans that families may be eligible for. View CACS food programs.
Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids
Hello, Head Start families in Ingham, Shiawassee, Clinton, and Eaton Counties! With so many choices, it can be confusing to know which drinks are healthy. CACS Head Start, Sugar Smart Coalition, and MSU Extension are excited to bring you 6 weeks of tips and information on how to reduce sugary drink consumption and help set your kids on the path to healthy growth and development. Learn more by following us on Facebook and Instagram, and by opening the links below.
https://cacs-inc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Think-About-Your-Drink-2.pdf
https://cacs-inc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Smiling-for-Less-Sugar-STEM-Kit-handout-2.pdf
https://cacs-inc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Hydrate-with-water-2.pdf
Can you guess how many teaspoons of sugar are in Cody’s glass of pop? Watch as MSU Extension Community Nutrition Instructor Cody McLaren shows us just how much added sugar can be in sugar-sweetened drinks. He encourages us to rethink our drinks with healthier options.
For more information, visit: https://healthydrinkshealthykids.org/
#Healthydrinkshealthykids @sugarsmartcoalition @cacsheadstart”
Click “Town Hall Video” link above!
Head Start News
Are you a Head Start Alumni?
You can join the National Head Start Association Alumni Network!
Contact Us
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.