Head Start/NM PreK & Early Head Start

Head Start/NM PreK & Early Head Start is a federal program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services to enrolled low-income children and families. 

The Region 9 Head Start/NM PreK & Early Head Start program is operated by the Region 9 Education Cooperative and supported by local public schools.

Region 9 Head Start sites are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young children (NAEYC). Staff participates in ongoing professional development and a variety of training opportunities in order to educate and enhance their professional skills and abilities.

If there are any individuals in need of special accommodations, please contact Calla Goeller at (575) 257-2368.

Early Childhood Development

Head Start/NM PreK & Early Head Start's commitment to wellness embraces a comprehensive vision of health for children, families, and staff. The objective of Child Health and Development Services is to ensure that through collaboration among families, staff, and health professionals, all child health and developmental concerns are identified and children and families are linked to an ongoing source of continuous, accessible care to meet their basic health needs.

The objective of Education and Early Childhood Development is to provide all children with a nurturing, engaging, enjoyable, and secure learning environment, in order to help them gain the awareness, skills, and confidence necessary to succeed in their present environment and to deal with later responsibilities in school and in life. Each child is treated as an individual in an inclusive community that values, respects, and responds to diversity. The varied experiences provided by the program support the continuum of children's growth and development, which includes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of each child.

Region 9 Head Start/NM PreK & Early Head Start program uses Creative Curriculum for Preschool, which is based on 38 objectives for development and learning that are fully aligned with the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework as well as early learning standards for New Mexico. Creative Curriculum offers daily opportunities to individualize instruction, helping teachers meet the needs of every type of learner. It addresses all the important areas of learning, from social-emotional and math to technology and the arts and incorporates them throughout every part of every day. The curriculum offers daily, built-in opportunities for observation, helping teachers and administrators clearly see the strong relationship between curriculum and assessment. It offers complete support for working with English and dual-language learners, including detailed guidance that helps to build the teachers' knowledge about best practices. In addition, it contains guidance for working with all learners, including advanced learners and children with disabilities. Early Head Start uses the Creative Curriculum for infants and toddlers.

Family and Community Engagement

Head Start/NM PreK & Early Head Start offers parents opportunities and support for growth, so that they can identify their own strengths, needs, and interests and find their own solutions. The objective of Family Engagement is to support parents as they identify and meet their own goals, nurture the development of their children in the context of their family and culture, and advocate for communities that are supportive of children and families of all cultures. The building of trusting, collaborative relationships between parents and staff allows them to share with and to learn from one another.

Head Start/NM PreK & Early Head Start serves families within the context of the community and recognizes that many other agencies and groups work with the same families. The objective of Community Engagement is to ensure that there is collaboration with partners in the community in order to provide the highest level of services to children and families, to foster the development of a continuum of family-centered services, and to advocate for a community that shares responsibility for the healthy development of children and families of all cultures.

Services for Children with Disabilities

Region 9 Head Start/NM PreK & Early Head Start provides comprehensive services to children with disabilities in an inclusive environment. Region 9 developmental services (part C) provides related services (developmental, speech, OT, PT, and social work) to children with disabilities at Early Head Start. 

Once a child turns 3 years old, they transition to Part B (the local school district) for special education services if they qualify. The local school district provides services to our Head Start/PreK children who qualify.

How To Enroll

Come by one of the sites listed on our page or apply online. Families will need to provide the following documents with their application:

• Child’s birth certificate
• Immunization records or exemption form from the state
• 12 months income
• Insurance card (if applicable)

Our Staff