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Head Start and Early Head Start in Connecticut

74 centers in 39 cities and towns, run by 23 programs. 39 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 55offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. It's free if you qualify.

Source: Office of Head Start service locations, as of October 2026. Each program reports its own sites, so call before you visit. Closed sites are left out.

Who qualifies in Connecticut

$27,320a year or less for a family of three, or $33,000 for four. That's the 2026 federal poverty line, Head Start's income limit.

You also qualify at any income if you get TANF or SSI, your child is in foster care, or your family is homeless.

Sources: 45 CFR 1302.12; HHS poverty guidelines

Poverty guidelines for every family size

Head Start by city in Connecticut

3 cities have 3 or more centers and a page of their own, most centers first.

Where to apply in Connecticut

You apply to a program, not to one center. Each number here is the program's enrollment line: staff can tell you which of its centers have room and add you to a waiting list.

  • Alliance for Community Empowerment, Inc.

    9 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (203) 366-8241

  • Thames Valley Council For Community Action, Inc

    9 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (860) 425-6533

  • City of New Haven, Inc.

    7 centers · Head Start

    (475) 220-1440

  • EastConn Head Start

    6 centers · Head Start

    (860) 455-0707

  • Training Education & Manpower, Inc.

    6 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (203) 734-8609 ext. 2021

  • EastConn Early Head Start

    4 centers · Early Head Start

    (860) 455-0707

  • Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc.

    4 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (860) 225-4688 ext. 2234

  • LULAC Head Start, Inc

    4 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (203) 777-4006

  • Capitol Region Education Council

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    No line reported

  • Edadvance

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (860) 482-5286 ext. 1213

  • United Way of Greater New Haven

    3 centers · Early Head Start

    (203) 691-4227

  • Child Care Learning Centers, Inc.

    2 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (203) 989-0090

  • Connecticut Institute For Communities, Inc.

    2 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (203) 791-5090

  • Early Head Start of Northern Fairfield County

    2 centers · Early Head Start

    (203) 743-3993

  • Head Start of Northern Fairfield County

    2 centers · Head Start

    (203) 743-3993 ext. 110

  • Area Cooperative Educational Services

    1 center · Early Head Start

    (860) 704-0725

  • Early Childhood Learning Center at Hockanum School

    1 center · Head Start

    (860) 622-5440

  • Enfield Head Start

    1 center · Head Start · for Manchester Head Start

    (860) 253-4741

  • Greater Trumbull/Monroe Regional Head Start

    1 center · Head Start · for Alliance for Community Empowerment, Inc.

    (203) 452-4422

  • Manchester Head Start

    1 center · Head Start

    (860) 647-3502 ext. 0

  • Manchester Memorial Hospital

    1 center · Early Head Start

    (860) 533-2990 ext. 2457

  • Meriden, New Britain, Berlin Young Men`s Christian Association, Inc

    1 center · Head Start

    (203) 238-9166 ext. 221

  • The West Haven Community House Association, Inc.

    1 center · Head Start

    (203) 934-5221

Centers in smaller towns in Connecticut

49 centers in 36 towns with fewer than 3 centers each, A to Z.

Ansonia · 1

  • TEAM Early Education - Ansonia

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 80 Howard Ave

    (203) 734-8609

Bristol · 2

  • HRA Lake Avenue Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 254 Lake Ave

    (860) 225-4688

  • HRA South Street Early Learning Center

    Head Start · 55 South St

    (860) 225-4688

Colchester · 1

  • Colchester EHS Home Base

    Early Head Start · 611 Norwich Ave

    (860) 215-0351

Danielson · 2

Dayville · 1

  • EASTCONN Head Start at Killingly High School

    Head Start · 226 Putnam Pike

    (860) 779-6793

East Hartford · 1

  • Early Childhood Learning Center at Hockanum School

    Head Start · 191 Main St

    (860) 622-5530

Enfield · 1

Groton · 1

  • Groton Early Head Start/Head Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 36 Central Ave

    (860) 448-2933

Hartford · 2

  • CREC South

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 261 Locust St, Crec Head Start

    (860) 244-2004

  • CREC Swift

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 10 Love Ln

    (860) 244-2004

Manchester · 2

  • Family Development Center

    Early Head Start · 26 Haynes St

    (860) 533-2990

  • Manchester Preschool Center

    Head Start · 60 Washington St

    (860) 647-3502

Meriden · 1

Middletown · 1

  • ACES Middletown Community Education Center

    Early Head Start · 300 Washington St

    (860) 704-0725

Milford · 1

  • TEAM Early Education - Milford

    Head Start · 35 Matthews St

    (203) 878-9153

Moosup · 2

Naugatuck · 1

New Britain · 2

  • Ben Franklin Head Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 180 Clinton St

    (860) 225-4688

  • North Oak

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 35 Oak St

    (860) 826-4277

New London · 2

  • Bayonet Head Start

    Head Start · 387 Bayonet St

    (860) 425-6630

  • TVCCA Head Start-New London Public School Collaborative

    Head Start · 40 Shaw St

    (860) 425-6538

New Milford · 1

  • Hill and Plain Head Start

    Head Start · 60 Old Town Park Rd

    (860) 302-9725

Norwalk · 2

  • CIFC - Greater Norwalk Head Start - Ely

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 11 Ingalls Ave

    (203) 791-5090

  • CIFC - Greater Norwalk Head Start Franklin

    Head Start · 165 Flax Hill Rd

    (203) 791-5095

Norwich · 2

  • Norwich EHS Home Base

    Early Head Start · 401 W Thames St, Unit 201

    (860) 425-6605

  • TVCCA Head Start-Norwich Collaborative

    Head Start · 526 E Main St

    (860) 823-4201

Putnam · 1

Shelton · 1

  • TEAM Early Education- Shelton Grove

    Head Start · 54 Grove St

    (203) 516-4985

Stamford · 2

Storrs · 1

  • Mansfield Discovery Depot

    Early Head Start · 50 Depot Rd

    (860) 487-0062

Stratford · 1

  • Alterine Johnson Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 909 Main St

    (203) 377-4721

Taftville · 1

  • Taftville Head Start

    Head Start · 380 Taftville Occum Rd, Route 97

    (860) 934-1020

Torrington · 1

  • EdAdvance Early Head Start & Head Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 119 Grove St

    (860) 860-5286

Trumbull · 1

  • Alliance @ Middlebrooks School

    Head Start · 240 Middlebrooks Ave

    (203) 452-4422

Uncasville · 1

Vernon · 1

  • Tolland County Head Start Home-Based

    Head Start · 130 Union St

    (860) 917-9683

Waterbury · 2

  • Lorry's Butterfly Garden

    Early Head Start · 145 Bucks Hill Rd

    (203) 734-8609

  • Slocum School

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 25 Rumford St

    (203) 734-8609

Waterford · 1

  • TVCCA Head Start- Friendship School Collaborative

    Head Start · 24 Rope Ferry Rd

    (860) 447-4049

West Haven · 2

  • West Haven Child Development Center

    Early Head Start · 201 Noble St, Ste 3

    (203) 932-2939

  • West Haven Community House Association Inc. Head Start

    Head Start · 227 Elm St

    (203) 934-5221

Willimantic · 2

  • Windham Early Childhood Center

    Early Head Start · 355 High St

    (860) 465-2597

  • Windham Early Childhood Center

    Head Start · 355 High St

    (860) 465-2627

Windsor · 1

  • CREC Early Learning Center at Roger Wolcott

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 451 Windsor Ave

    (860) 244-2004

Winsted · 1

Head Start in nearby states

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in Connecticut

Having a baby in ConnecticutBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 263% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveYesMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee Connecticut