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Head Start and Early Head Start in Rhode Island

40 centers in 18 cities and towns, run by 7 programs. 28 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 35offer 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 Rhode Island

$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 Rhode Island

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

Where to apply in Rhode Island

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.

  • Children's Friend and Service

    15 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (401) 276-4300

  • Tri-Town Economic Opportunity Committee

    7 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (401) 515-2471

  • East Bay Community Action Program

    6 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (401) 367-2001

  • Woonsocket Head Start Child Development Association

    5 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (401) 769-1850

  • CHILD, Inc.

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (401) 732-5200

  • Comprehensive Community Action Program

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (401) 943-5160

  • Meeting Street

    1 center · Early Head Start

    No line reported

Centers in smaller towns in Rhode Island

20 centers in 15 towns with fewer than 3 centers each, A to Z.

Central Falls · 2

  • Children's Friend - Dexter Street

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 621 Dexter St

    (401) 721-9200

  • Children's Workshop-Central Falls

    Early Head Start · 151 Hunt St

    (401) 727-4474

Coventry · 1

  • Cady Street Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 23 Cady St

    (401) 823-3228

Johnston · 1

  • Waveland Street Site

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 7 Waveland Street

    (401) 626-3469

Middletown · 1

  • Aquidneck Elementary-Head Start

    Head Start · 70 Reservoir Rd

    (401) 601-0588

Newport · 1

  • Newport Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 8 John H Chafee Blvd

    (401) 367-2001

North Kingstown · 1

North Providence · 2

Pascoag · 1

  • Burrillville Site

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 185 Pascoag Main St

    (401) 568-8320

Pawtucket · 2

  • Children's Friend - Dean Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 13 Legion Dr

    (401) 752-7700

  • Heritage Park YMCA

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 333 Roosevelt Ave

    (401) 727-7050

Riverside · 2

  • Turner Avenue Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 70 Turner Ave

    (401) 649-4233

  • Willett Avenue Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 386 Willett Ave

    (401) 437-0018

Tiverton · 1

Wakefield · 1

  • South Kingstown Site

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 1935 Kingstown Rd

    (401) 789-3016

Warren · 1

  • Mary V. Quirk School

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 790 Main St

    (401) 245-2833

Warwick · 2

  • Centerville Road Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 849 Centerville Rd

    (401) 823-3777

  • Draper Avenue Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 160 Draper Ave

    (401) 732-5200

Westerly · 1

Head Start in nearby states

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in Rhode Island

Having a baby in Rhode IslandBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 258% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveYesMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee Rhode Island