The RUCD Head Start has programs available for children from as young as newborn up to five years of age. Their programs ensure children in Carbon and Emery Counties can learn essential skills for their next educational steps, and parents get support and resources when they need it.

“So Head Start has been around since the 1960s, we are a federally funded grant program, and we are a free pre-school for both Early Head Start and Head Start, and both of our programs are free to those accepted individuals,” said RUCD Representative, MaKayla Baldonado. There is a misconception that RUCD Head Start services are income based and that is not true. The educational services offered through their organization are open to the community.

Children can start with the Early Head Start program which helps children achieve those early milestones. “So Early Head Start is zero to three when they’re born and you’re ready to go back to work and you want to put them in to learn and socialize and achieve those milestones that they are needing. Just apply and we’ll get you in,” said Early Head Start Representative, Morgan Korenko. Early Head Start is a home-based program with services provided through weekly home visits to each enrolled child and family.

If a child has gone through the Early Head Start program, they are now able to move to the Head Start program, which is Pre-K learning and for students 3 to 5 years of age. “We work on their social/emotional; we have a social/emotional curriculum that we follow. We also work on their fine motor, large motor, and learning their numbers, learning their colors, learning their letters, teaching them to write their names, and making sure they are ready for kindergarten in all aspects,” said Head Start Representative, Jashelle Adams.  Head Start is a center-based program. Education and child development services are delivered in classroom settings.

To apply or to learn more about the RUCD Head Start visit their website at https://www.rucd.org/ or call them at (800) 841-2867.