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    Who Can Apply for Head Start?

    Children must be three years-of-age, and not yet five years-of-age, by October 1 of the calendar year to be enrolled. Families are encouraged to apply prior to child’s 3rd birthday and can be enrolled immediately upon your child turning 3 years old on October 1, 2024. Children do NOT need to be potty-trained to attend Head Start!

    Families must reside in our service area, which is ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO. Verification of residency is required. 

    Families must provide verification of income to qualify for the program. Regardless of income, some children are automatically eligible:

    • Foster children or children in kinship care
    • Families experiencing homelessness
    • Families receiving TANF/Colorado Works
    • Families receiving SNAP (Food Stamps)
    • Families receiving SSI (Supplemental Security Income)

    Although most of our families are below the federal poverty guideline, income is not our only criterion. We encourage all families to apply!

    Submit a Pre-Application

    Please contact Maritza Espinoza at [email protected] or 720.523.4616 or Leslie Oliver at [email protected] or 720.378.0201 for any enrollment questions and to make an appointment to begin your child’s enrollment at any one of the Adams County Head Start locations:

    Brighton | Commerce City | Northglenn | Thornton | Westminster

    If you would like to download and print a copy of the Head Start preapplication and begin to fill this out prior to your appointment, please click below:

    Required Documents

    Head Start requires the following additional documents to determine eligibility for the program. You may submit them when you are called by a Family Health Specialist:

    • Your child’s birth certificate or other form of age verification
    • Verification of residency (Utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, SSI verification, Food Stamp or TANF verification with parent/guardian name and address)
    • Your child’s current and complete immunization record. Click here to learn more about required immunizations in Colorado
    • Your child’s physical exam completed within the last 12 months
    • Your child’s dental exam form. If your child has not yet visited the dentist, now is a great time to schedule his/her first appointment! 
    • Proof of family’s income (W2’s, income tax returns, or twelve months of check stubs; verification of TANF or SSI are also acceptable.)
      • To view the current Federal Poverty Guidelines, please click here. To qualify for Head Start, your family must fall within the 100%, 75%, or 50% columns based on your household size. However, there may be exceptions. If your family income is within the 125% or 130% columns, please reach out to the Family Support Case Manager to discuss whether your child may still be eligible for Head Start.

    Head Start staff can assist you in obtaining any of the above information. If you have any questions about what is needed, please feel free to call us anytime at 720.523.4602.

    There is also a Universal Application process where you can find out what other childcare programs your family may qualify for. To visit this page and learn more, click here. 

    Health Documents

    Please schedule your child's annual physical exams and necessary immunization appointments so your child can begin school. Without a current physical exam, or proper immunization documentation, your child will need to wait to begin school until these documents are received by your Health Specialist.  

    If you need assistance with understanding what medical documentation is needed to begin school, please call Leslie Oliver, RDN, RN at 720.378.0201. 

    If you need health care coverage, please visit Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) websites.

    You can see if you qualify by applying directly on their website. Please see directions on how to apply below.  

    • You can apply any time of the year.
    • Don’t assume you don't qualify -- there are different eligibility categories for different situations.  
    • Anyone can apply online at Colorado.gov/PEAK or by phone at 1.800.221.3943 (press "1" for phone applications).
    • Want to learn more? Check out our enrollment info.

    Starting January 2025, certain groups will receive healthcare coverage regardless of immigration status, to learn more and understand how to apply, go to: https://hcpf.colorado.gov/coverallcoloradans.

    What is Cover All Coloradans?
    A new law called "Cover All Coloradans" helps children and pregnant people get health coverage, no matter what their immigration status is. This law helps all qualifying children and pregnant people see a doctor and get care when they need it.

    Effective Jan. 1, 2025, these newly eligible populations will get the same support and services provided to Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) members.

    Who Should Apply
    These groups should apply now, no matter what their immigration status is:

    • Pregnant people
    • People whose pregnancy ends on or after Jan.1, 2025
    • Any child 18 or younger

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