Southern Oregon Head Start and Early Head Start
1001 Beall Ln., Central Point, OR 97502
About
Southern Oregon Head Start and Early Head Start offers time for children to spend playing, learning, telling stories, and singing songs in a safe, educational setting with qualified, caring teachers. The program takes place in Southern Oregon Head Start and Early Head Start centers.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
• Price: Southern Oregon Head Start offers free preschool to qualifying families.
Southern Oregon Head Start was founded in 1967. Its mission is that Southern Oregon Head Start prepares children and their families for success in school and throughout life. The program provides free early childhood education, family support, health, nutrition, disabilities and mental health services, and operates 27 centers in Josephine and Jackson counties. Head Start is a federal and state funded program for preschool children age 3–5, and Early Head Start services are available for pregnant women and infants and toddlers age birth to 3. Children receive free healthy meals and snacks, as well as health, dental and developmental screenings, and accommodations are offered to meet the special needs of children who experience disabilities. The program supports a Spanish Family Literacy Program, including the Listo Family Literacy Program, which provides culturally specific learning opportunities for Latinx families in the community, and it offers free parenting education classes and resources.
Parents, students, and family members describe many aspects of their experiences with Southern Oregon Head Start and Early Head Start. One Head Start scholarship recipient, Heidi, says, “I am proud to be a part of the Head Start family…The staff is awesome and helps with whatever they can.” Ana, a Listo parent, shares that she is more involved in her child’s education and that her daughter is glad the whole family is attending school. Bob, a Head Start parent, explains that his child “really needed the social interaction that EHS provided” and that now “he is talking a lot and learning a lot.” Jodi, a Policy Council Representative, says, “The Head Start staff showered me with support and encouragement.” Andrea, a mother in the Listo program, says her children “feel safe here and they love to be at Listo with their friends.” Jarod, a Head Start student, connects his involvement with Head Start to being awarded the Oregon Community College Association “Outstanding Student Scholar.” Lyn, a Head Start parent, says staff members “have helped me raise two very loving, emotionally strong kids” and given them words to use for their feelings. Kristal, a parent, says, “In the future I want to work for EHS because I want to be able to touch someone’s life the way they have touched mine.” Jewel, a parent, says, “I wish they had Head Start available for everyone.” Another parent, Leberly, says, “Companionship with the staff is one very important thing. They really care about my family.” A LISTO parent says, “I have a dream, that one day my child could go to college.” Crystal, a parent, says she has “seen drastic changes” in her daughter since starting Head Start. Annalise, an Early Head Start parent, says, “I really have appreciated the extra help that Early Head Start has provided to our family.” Vegi, an Early Head Start parent, says, “It’s helped improve his language skills and his sharing skills. Head Start is a great program.” Jason, a Head Start parent, says, “I’m just really impressed with the Head Start program.” Kari, a parent, says, “It’s not just for children, it’s for families, too.” Sabena, a parent, says, “Without Head Start, we wouldn’t be able to raise the family we’re raising today.” Samantha, a Head Start student, says the help Head Start provided her family “was crucial to my development and to my mother’s ability to care for our family.” Leonel, a parent in the Listo program, says the program helps the Latino community and that parents can learn English and computer skills while their children learn reading and writing. Bob, an Early Head Start parent, says, “So many wonderful people at EHS have helped my children learn to trust other people.”
Last updated March 18, 2026.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
• Price: Southern Oregon Head Start offers free preschool to qualifying families.
Southern Oregon Head Start was founded in 1967. Its mission is that Southern Oregon Head Start prepares children and their families for success in school and throughout life. The program provides free early childhood education, family support, health, nutrition, disabilities and mental health services, and operates 27 centers in Josephine and Jackson counties. Head Start is a federal and state funded program for preschool children age 3–5, and Early Head Start services are available for pregnant women and infants and toddlers age birth to 3. Children receive free healthy meals and snacks, as well as health, dental and developmental screenings, and accommodations are offered to meet the special needs of children who experience disabilities. The program supports a Spanish Family Literacy Program, including the Listo Family Literacy Program, which provides culturally specific learning opportunities for Latinx families in the community, and it offers free parenting education classes and resources.
Parents, students, and family members describe many aspects of their experiences with Southern Oregon Head Start and Early Head Start. One Head Start scholarship recipient, Heidi, says, “I am proud to be a part of the Head Start family…The staff is awesome and helps with whatever they can.” Ana, a Listo parent, shares that she is more involved in her child’s education and that her daughter is glad the whole family is attending school. Bob, a Head Start parent, explains that his child “really needed the social interaction that EHS provided” and that now “he is talking a lot and learning a lot.” Jodi, a Policy Council Representative, says, “The Head Start staff showered me with support and encouragement.” Andrea, a mother in the Listo program, says her children “feel safe here and they love to be at Listo with their friends.” Jarod, a Head Start student, connects his involvement with Head Start to being awarded the Oregon Community College Association “Outstanding Student Scholar.” Lyn, a Head Start parent, says staff members “have helped me raise two very loving, emotionally strong kids” and given them words to use for their feelings. Kristal, a parent, says, “In the future I want to work for EHS because I want to be able to touch someone’s life the way they have touched mine.” Jewel, a parent, says, “I wish they had Head Start available for everyone.” Another parent, Leberly, says, “Companionship with the staff is one very important thing. They really care about my family.” A LISTO parent says, “I have a dream, that one day my child could go to college.” Crystal, a parent, says she has “seen drastic changes” in her daughter since starting Head Start. Annalise, an Early Head Start parent, says, “I really have appreciated the extra help that Early Head Start has provided to our family.” Vegi, an Early Head Start parent, says, “It’s helped improve his language skills and his sharing skills. Head Start is a great program.” Jason, a Head Start parent, says, “I’m just really impressed with the Head Start program.” Kari, a parent, says, “It’s not just for children, it’s for families, too.” Sabena, a parent, says, “Without Head Start, we wouldn’t be able to raise the family we’re raising today.” Samantha, a Head Start student, says the help Head Start provided her family “was crucial to my development and to my mother’s ability to care for our family.” Leonel, a parent in the Listo program, says the program helps the Latino community and that parents can learn English and computer skills while their children learn reading and writing. Bob, an Early Head Start parent, says, “So many wonderful people at EHS have helped my children learn to trust other people.”
Last updated March 18, 2026.
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