Head Start registration through Catholic Charities has begun

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans’ Head Start Program has opened registration for qualified students who will attend in the 2021-22 school year.

Dates vary, depending on which Head Start Center the child is placed, but registration for all the area sites will be at St. Mary of the Angels Head Start Center, 2225 Congress St., New Orleans, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

► St. Mary of the Angels Head Start Center students are asked to register June 23-25.

► Students who have attended St. Paul the Apostle Head Start Center and new and prospective families whose children have never attended a Head Start program are asked to register June 28-30. New students must accompany their parents at this registration.

► For returning Incarnate Word Head Start Center students, registration is July 6-9.

► St. John the Baptist Head Start Center returning students are to register July 12-16.

► Covenant House Early Head Start students can register July 12-16.

Parents who miss their assigned dates can register their children Aug. 5-6 at St. Mary of the Angels Head Start Center.

Head Start and Early Head Start programs are open to families who are at or below the federal poverty line. The program promotes the social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth and development of children beginning at age 6 weeks to 2 years old for Early Head Start and from 3 to 5 years old for Head Start.

When registering a child, parents and guardians should bring identification; their child’s birth certificate (original, not a copy), Social Security card, medical card and child’s immunization record; two proofs of residency with address provided on application (lease, utility bills, etc); income documents for all household parents for the past 12 months (2020 W-2 documents, 2020 income tax return, and/or signed statement of support letter that includes support person’s state ID, child support, Social Security benefits, TANF certification); and a copy of current IEP/IFSP documents.

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans (CCANO) has provided New Orleans area children and their families with a “head start” in life for more than 40 years. The Head Start program recently celebrated its 56th anniversary nationally.

Appointments can be scheduled at https://www.ccano.org/head-start-program or call (504) 861-6359.

                                                                                            – Christine Bordelon