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Head Start and Early Head Start in Plainfield, NJ

4 centers in Plainfield (Union County). 3 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 285 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 New Jersey

$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 Plainfield

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

  • HOPES CAP, Inc. Early Childhood & Family Services Center

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1201 E 7th St, Plainfield, NJ 07062

    Run by HOPES Community Action Partnership, Inc. · 167 funded slots

    (201) 795-1576
    CallDirections

  • HOPES CAP, Inc. New Horizon Center

    Head Start

    110 W Front St, Plainfield, NJ 07060

    Run by HOPES Community Action Partnership, Inc. · 26 funded slots

    (201) 795-1576
    CallDirections

  • HOPES CAP,Inc. Early Head Start Plainfield/Park Avenue

    Early Head Start

    322 Park Ave, Plainfield, NJ 07060

    Run by HOPES Community Action Partnership, Inc. · 32 funded slots

    (201) 795-1576
    CallDirections

  • HOPES Child Development Center

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1101 South Ave, Plainfield, NJ 07062

    Run by HOPES Community Action Partnership, Inc. · 60 funded slots

    (201) 795-1576
    CallDirections

Where to apply in Plainfield

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 Plainfield.

  • HOPES Community Action Partnership, Inc.

    4 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (201) 656-3711 ext. 1111

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

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in New Jersey

Having a baby in New JerseyBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 205% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveYesMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee New Jersey