Early Head Start Program Expands to Mid- and Northern Montgomery County

Families in Gaithersburg have a new option for high-quality early education for their children. Easterseals DC MD VA – a trusted provider of services for children in the region for 80 years – is expanding its Early Head Start program this fall. 

“Building on the success of our Head Start and Early Head Start centers in Prince George’s County and Washington, DC, we look forward to serving 70 families in the Gaithersburg area,” says Natalie Vanderbilt, Vice President of Early Education at Easterseals DC MD VA. “True to the Easterseals mission, we’ll welcome children both with and without disabilities.” 

To reduce financial barriers to high-quality pre-schooling, Head Start offers early care and education, as well as support to pregnant women, at no cost to qualifying low-income families. At Easterseals, children will also be screened for developmental delays and early intervention needs. 

The Gaithersburg program will begin offering home-based services this October. Staff will visit children aged 0-3 each week, working with them and their parents on early learning, health monitoring, and family well-being to foster strong parent-child relationships. Parents will also be able to bring their children to a monthly gathering for group activities and additional learning. 

Easterseals will later transition this Early Head Start program to center-based classrooms and family services. “We are focused on opening a new center to provide families the opportunity to enroll their children in a full-day, full-year program,” Vanderbilt added. “Not only will that enable parents to work during the day, but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reported that full-day early education for disadvantaged children substantially improves reading, math, and social skills, laying the foundation for long-term success in school and life.” 

Easterseals will soon be hiring teachers and other staff to implement the program. Qualified early educators can review the organization’s Careers webpage in September for a list of openings.  

Families in Gaithersburg with children of all abilities, ages 0-3 years, are encouraged to apply for the new program online at Easterseals Head Start.