The Head Start program is run by agencies across the country in both public and private institutions of learning. The ACF provides grants to these agencies that support families otherwise unable to afford preschool childcare for children ages three to five years old. Head Start programs focus on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills they need to be successful in school.
The Early Childhood Development and Health program works with ACF's Head Start program, but focuses on the well-being and cognitive development of children ages zero to three years old. Early Childhood Development programs and agencies aim to provide all children with a nurturing and engaging environment.
Funded by the Office of Child Care (a division of ACF), Research Connections aims to be a one-stop-shop for the child care and early education field. The Research Connections website combines interactive tools for users to search for national and local preschool agencies and conduct research on various areas such as state policies and demographics.
Child Care Aware is a national resource for parents and child care providers. The CCA service operates both as a hotline and website that allows users to find local preschool agencies. The Child Care Aware service is run by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, which work with more than 700 state and local Child Care Resource & Referral agencies nationwide. The service covers agencies in 99 percent of all populated zip codes in the United States.