Rural Prenatal to Five Head Start
The mission of the Rural Prenatal to Five Head Start program is to enhance children's physical, social, emotional and intellectual development; to support parents, both mothers and fathers, in fulfilling their parental roles; and to help parents move toward economic independence. What is Head Start?
Head Start and Early Head Start are federally-funded child development programs that serve low-income children from prenatal to age 5 and their families. The overall goal of the programs is to increase the social competence of young children and the self-sufficiency of families. Youth & Family Services recognizes the parent as the child's primary educator, nurturer and advocate of their child. YFS has sponsored Head Start services in the Rapid City area since 1984. All services are free of charge for participants who qualify.
Programs are for families who meet household income guidelines or have a child with disabilities. Among the services offered are preschool education, dental exams and follow-up, screening and developmental testing, parent education, transportation, services for children with disabilities and their families, family-oriented counseling, family literacy, alcohol and drug dependency prevention, family self-sufficiency and health screening.
YFS has two Head Start programs:
- Rural Prenatal to Five Head Start (active in eight counties in western South Dakota)
- Rapid City Prenatal to Five Head Start
About the Rural Head Start Program
Rural Prenatal to Five Head Start offers weekly home visits to infants, toddlers and preschool children and their families in eight counties in western South Dakota: Butte, Custer, Fall River, Haakon, Jackson, Lawrence, Meade and Pennington. A teacher works with parents and children to plan and share activities that will benefit the growth and development of children.
Twice monthly, socialization opportunities allow children to play and interact with other children their age. Parent involvement is the strength of Rural Head Start. Parents are actively involved in their child's educational growth.
Service Areas
- Butte County (Head Start only)
- Fall River County
- Hill City/Custer Area
- Jackson/Haakon Counties
- Lawrence County
- Meade County
- Newell/Nisland/Vale Area (Head Start only)
- Pennington County
Services & Activities
Rural Prenatal to Five Head Start strives to offer developmental opportunities through a variety of activities, including home visits, social activities, field trips, parent association and policy council.
Cost/Eligibility
YFS Rural Prenatal to Five Head Start offers services at no cost to the enrolled family. Applications are always being accepted for children age prenatal to five.
Download Application
You can download and print the Head Start application online.
(The application requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be obtained here.)
