Skip to main content
The Mom Site

Head Start and Early Head Start in Maine

76 centers in 56 cities and towns, run by 13 programs. 40 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 62offer 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 Maine

$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 Maine

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

Where to apply in Maine

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.

  • Community Concepts, Inc.

    13 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (207) 739-6516

  • Aroostook County Action Program

    12 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (207) 768-3045

  • Kennebec Valley Community Action Program

    8 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (207) 859-1599

  • Midcoast Maine Community Action

    7 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (207) 442-7963 ext. 214

  • Penquis C a P,inc

    7 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (207) 973-3616

  • Androscoggin Head Start & Child Care

    6 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (207) 795-4040 ext. 316

  • Waldo Community Action Partners

    6 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (207) 338-3827

  • Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation

    5 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (207) 582-3110

  • The Opportunity Alliance

    5 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (207) 553-5811

  • York County Early Head Start

    3 centers · Early Head Start

    (207) 324-5762 ext. 2979

  • York County Head Start

    2 centers · Head Start

    (207) 324-5762 ext. 2979

  • Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians

    1 center · Head Start

    (207) 764-1972

  • Maliseet Head Start

    1 center · Head Start

    (207) 521-2411

Centers in smaller towns in Maine

66 centers in 53 towns with fewer than 3 centers each, A to Z.

Auburn · 2

Augusta · 2

Bangor · 1

  • Bright Beginnings

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 31 Hillside Ave

    (207) 973-3616

Bath · 1

  • Bath Head Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 34 Wing Farm Pkwy

    (207) 442-7963

Belfast · 2

  • Belfast Early Head Start Center "Jabine"

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 275 High St

    (207) 338-4590

  • Early Head Start Home Based Option

    Early Head Start · 9 Field St, Suite 209

    (207) 338-3827

Bethel · 1

  • The Sharon Wilson-Cox Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 310 W Bethel Rd, U S Route 2

    (207) 739-6559

Biddeford · 2

Brewer · 1

Brunswick · 2

  • Brunswick Head Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 31 Venture Ave

    (207) 729-4721

  • Region 10 Collaboration

    Head Start · 68 Church Rd

    (207) 442-7963

Calais · 1

  • St Croix Early Care and Education Center

    Early Head Start · 53 Garfield St

    (207) 768-3045

Canaan · 1

  • Canaan Preschool

    Head Start · 178 Main St, Canaan Elementary School

    (207) 474-3901

Caribou · 2

  • ACAP Early Care & Education Center Caribou

    Early Head Start · 17 Bowles Rd

    (207) 496-7681

  • Caribou RSU39 Partnership

    Head Start · 24 Bennett Dr

    (207) 554-4177

Chelsea · 1

  • Chelsea Pre K Partnership

    Head Start · 566 Togus Rd, Chelsea Elementary School

    (207) 582-2214

Dexter · 1

Dover Foxcroft · 1

  • Dover Child Development

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 48 Morton Ave.

    (207) 564-0039

Dyer Brook · 1

  • ACAP / RSU #50 Head Start / Preschool Partnership

    Head Start · 864 Dyer Brook Rd

    (207) 757-8692

East Millinocket · 1

  • Katahdin Region Child Development Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 1 Dirigo Dr, Ste 3

    (207) 746-5289

Easton · 1

Ellsworth · 1

  • Ellsworth Early Care and Education Center

    Early Head Start · 18 Avery Ln

    (207) 768-3045

Fairfield · 1

Farmington · 1

  • Farmington Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 103 Deerfield Ln

    (207) 778-0075

Fort Kent · 1

  • ACAP Early Care & Education Center Fort Kent

    Head Start · 40 Alfalfa Ave

    (207) 834-5290

Fryeburg · 2

  • Fryeburg Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 6 Molly Ockett Dr

    (207) 935-3911

  • Molly Ockett Early Learning Center

    Head Start · 25 Molly Ockett Dr

    (207) 935-3911

Gardiner · 1

Hartland · 1

Houlton · 2

  • ACAP Early Care & Education Center Houlton

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 91 Military St

    (207) 532-0907

  • Maliseet Head Start

    Head Start (American Indian and Alaska Native) · 1 Maliseet Dr

    (207) 521-2411

Jay · 1

  • Jay Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 149 Main St

    (207) 897-4258

Limestone · 1

Machias · 1

  • Flaherty Early Care and Education Center

    Early Head Start · 116 Obrien Ave

    (207) 768-3045

New Sharon · 1

  • Cape Cod Hill Early Learning Center

    Head Start · 516 Cape Cod Hill Rd

    (207) 778-3031

Newcastle · 1

  • Salt Bay Area Head Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 5 Sheepscot Rd

    (207) 563-1412

Norridgewock · 2

  • Mill Stream Preschool

    Head Start · 26 Mercer Rd, Mill Stream Elementary School

    (207) 858-1400

  • Quimby Child Care - Kerri Everett

    Early Head Start · 29 Waterville Rd

    (207) 634-6161

Norway · 2

Old Town · 1

  • Old Town Child Development

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 90 Middle St

    (207) 947-1065

Oxford · 1

  • Oxford Early Learning Center

    Head Start · 79 Pleasant St

    (207) 539-4456

Portland · 2

  • East End Child Development

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 215 Congress St

    (207) 553-5950

  • Riverton

    Head Start · 102-104 Riverton Drive

    (207) 553-5956

Rockland · 1

  • Rockland Child Development Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 7 High St

    (207) 594-5342

Rumford · 1

  • Chisholm Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 126 York St

    (207) 369-9176

Sanford · 2

Searsport · 2

  • RSU 20 Searsport Head Start Pre-K

    Head Start · 30 Mortland Rd

    (207) 567-3264

  • Searsport Early Head Start Center

    Early Head Start · 3 Back Searsport Rd

    (207) 548-6268

Skowhegan · 1

  • Hight Family Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 40 Heselton St

    (207) 858-1458

South Gardiner · 1

  • South Gardiner Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 721 River Road

    (207) 582-3264

South Paris · 1

  • Riley Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start · 340 High St

    (207) 739-2517

Springvale · 1

Unity · 1

  • RSU 3 Unity Head Start / Pre-K

    Head Start · 84 School St

    (207) 948-5228

Waldoboro · 1

Waterville · 1

  • Educare Central Maine

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 56 Drummond Ave

    (207) 680-7200

West Paris · 1

  • West Paris Early Learning Center

    Head Start · 170 Main St

    (207) 674-2332

Whitefield · 1

Wilton · 1

  • Wilton Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 251 US Route 2 E

    (207) 645-3284

Winslow · 1

  • Happy Days - Jennifer Stevens

    Early Head Start · 1437 Augusta Rd

    (207) 616-0786

Winterport · 1

Wiscasset · 1

Head Start in nearby states

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in Maine

Having a baby in MaineBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 214% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveYesMedicaid pays for a doulaPendingSee Maine