Early Head Start

  • The goal is to offer an exemplary educational program for qualifying families with infants and toddlers (birth-3 years).

    Early Head Start is a collaborative partnership between SER-Jobs for Progress and the Grand Prairie Independent School District serving individuals in Dallas County.

    Purpose of Program

    • Enhance children’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development
    • Enable parents to be better caretakers and teachers to their children
    • Help parents meet their goals, including that of economic independence     

    Services Provided by Early Head Start

    • Quality early education through the center or home-based program
    • Parenting skills training for families with newborns and other infants
    • Parent education, including parent-child activities
    • Comprehensive health services including services to women before, during and after pregnancy; assistance with well-baby and well-child checkups
    • Ongoing support for parents, referral to agencies in the community to meet specific needs and peer support groups

    Locations

    • Little Coyotes at Crosswinds ACH
    • Little Dragons at Daniels Elementary
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  • Who is Eligible for Early Head Start?

    1. The family's income must fall within the federal poverty income guidelines.
    2. For Early Head Start a child must be an infant or a toddler younger than three years old. 
    3. The child must live within the school district boundaries of Grand Prairie ISD. (with the exception of students meeting the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act).
    4. Pregnant women and teens that meet the above eligibility criteria may apply for Early Head Start services.

    Before you can enroll your child/children in the Head Start program; you must meet the US Department of Health and Human Services Income guidelines. For example, for a family of 4, the total household income must be at or below $24,300.
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2020 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia

For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4, 160 for each additional person.

How Can I Enroll?

  • For enrollment please contact Yolanda Shamlin-Shields at 972-522-2978.
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  • What Do I Need to Bring?

    Each family applying will have to provide the following income documents in order of priority:

    1. 1040, or 1040A income tax form which documents all of the family members in the household.
    2. Annual benefit statements such as: TANF, SSI, Social Security, Child Support, Foster Care Payment, and Unemployment compensation when applicant has been unemployed for the past twelve months.
    3. Families who receive cash benefits may submit a letter from their employer stating annual income of employee on company letterhead, signed, and dated by employer with the employer’s company address, and phone number. Letter must be notarized with a notary seal.

    Other required documents are:

    • Copy of child’s certified birth certificate.
    • Copy of child’s social security card.
    • Copy of child’s current immunization record.
    • Copy of child’s lead screening form results.
    • Copy of child’s medical insurance information.
    • Copy of child’s physical exam.
    • Copy of child’s dental exam.
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  • Who Can I Contact?

    Yolanda Shamlin-Shields
    Little Coyotes & Little Dragons Learning Center Site Supervisor
    Phone: 972-522-2978
    Email: Yolanda.Shamlin-Shields@gpisd.org
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