Test NM ECECD Changes
Prenatal
Infants
Toddlers
Pre-K
Programs
Select a program below to view details
Your Title Goes Here
Your Title Goes Here
Early Head Start / Head Start
Mission
To prepare children for school while providing families access to community resources and comprehensive support services to ensure their children’s success.
Why it’s important
Early Head Start/Head Start is a federally funded program that prepares America’s most vulnerable children to succeed in school and beyond. Head Start programs deliver services to children and families in core areas of early learning, health, and family well-being while engaging parents as partners every step of the way.
Because the program focuses on the family as a whole, children receive early screenings which may lead to early identification of developmental delays, lead poisoning, dental and health care needs, and mental health services. The program also provides nutritious meals to children – and multiple referrals to community resources for families.
Who / what age groups it’s for:
Early Head Start has two options: Home Based or Center Based. The Home Based program serves children prenatal to 3 and is available for working or non-working families.
Center Based programs serve children 6 weeks to 3 years old and are designed for working families.
Both options support families to transition to Center Based Head Start when age appropriate, or for those in Home Based to transition to Center Based Early Head Start when needed for working purposes.
Head Start provides preschool services for three- and four-year-old children in a Center Based model.
How people can access the service:
Families access services through an income-based application process. Children who have disabilities, are living under foster/kinship care, are receiving Survivor SSI benefits, are experiencing homelessness, or who face other risk factors have priority.
What (if anything) it costs:
Services are provided free of charge.
Whether there are income-based discounts, etc:
Services are free.
Families FIRST Program
Why it’s important:
Families FIRST is a case management program of the New Mexico Department of Health, Public Health Division, funded
Who / what age groups it’s for:
Medicaid eligible pregnant women and children 0-3 years old.
How people can access the service:
Families FIRST is a statewide program that would like to provide services within the community to Prenatal and pediatric clients that need case management services
What (if anything) it costs:
No cost
Whether there are income-based discounts, etc:
This program serves Medicaid-eligible families.
Home Visiting
Mission:
Supporting New Mexico families to raise healthy, happy, successful children.
Why it’s important:
The home visiting program offers a range of informational, educational, developmental, referral, and other support services to families with young children. These services are delivered by well-trained, considerate staff who recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers.
Home visiting program services are tied to six overarching goals:
- Babies are born healthy
- Children are nurtured by their parents and caregivers
- Children are physically and mentally healthy
- Children are ready for school
- Children and families are safe
Families are connected to formal and informal supports in their communities
Who / what age groups it’s for:
Prenatal – 3; selected agencies/counties serve children up to the age of five.
How people can access the service:
Families can access home visiting services in 31 of 33 counties in New Mexico by visiting the New Mexico Kids website.
What (if anything) it costs:
Services are provided free of charge.
Whether there are income-based discounts, etc:
Services are free.