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Head Start and Early Head Start in Joplin, MO

5 centers in Joplin (Jasper County). 5 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 3 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through one local program, which report 182 funded slots here. 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 Missouri

$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

Centers in Joplin

Listed A to Z. A center may serve only some ages; the tags show which programs it runs.

  • Ewert Park Early Head Start

    Early Head Start

    520 S School Ave, Joplin, MO 64801

    Run by Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area · 8 funded slots

    (417) 627-2020
    CallDirections

  • Joplin Head Start and Early Head Start Home Based

    Early Head StartHead Start

    222 W 3rd St, Joplin, MO 64801

    Run by Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area · 20 funded slots

    (417) 717-8100
    CallDirections

  • North Joplin Head Start & Early Head Start

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1200 N Main St, Joplin, MO 64801

    Run by Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area · 83 funded slots

    (417) 781-4497
    CallDirections

  • South Joplin Early Head Start

    Early Head Start

    4230 S Richard Joseph Blvd W, Joplin, MO 64804

    Run by Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area · 8 funded slots

    (417) 627-2020
    CallDirections

  • South Joplin Head Start

    Early Head StartHead Start

    4302 S Richard Joseph Blvd W, Joplin, MO 64804

    Run by Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area · 63 funded slots

    (417) 627-2020
    CallDirections

Where to apply in Joplin

You apply to the program, not to one center. Each number here is the program's enrollment line: staff check whether you qualify, tell you which centers have room, and add you to the waiting list if they're full. Counts are centers in Joplin.

  • Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area

    5 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (417) 627-2020

New to Head Start? Who qualifies, what it costs and how applying works

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in Missouri

Having a baby in MissouriBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 305% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveNoMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee Missouri