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Serving young children (birth through age 5) and pregnant women in Trenton, NJ.
The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey (CHSofNJ) Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) programs offer both center-based and home-based services that include high quality early childhood education and comprehensive services to children ages 3-5 (Head Start) and infants and toddlers ages 0-3 (Early Head Start) in Trenton, New Jersey. All services, including daily nutritious meals and comprehensive support services are provided at no cost to families. For detailed descriptions of the services provided to HS/EHS families, refer to the links below.
HS/EHS children participate in engaging, interactive lessons and activities designed to reinforce key skills and developmental abilities. Our research-based curriculum is designed to help young children develop in six key areas: cognitive, social-emotional, physical, language, literacy, and mathematics. These six areas together, enhanced by our comprehensive services and individualized support, build the strong foundation for learning that enables children to thrive in Kindergarten and beyond.
Our program is delivered in partnership with the Trenton Public Schools Office of Early Childhood. The Trenton Board of Education provides funding to enhance the learning experiences of our children and elevate our teachers’ credentials through NJ State certification. Inclusion classrooms are available for children with an IEP or an IFSP.
As with all CHSofNJ programs, HS/EHS views children, families, and services through a trauma-informed lens. Our staff are trained to understand and serve children who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which can impact behavior, health, development, cognition, and happiness. Our team also recognizes that trauma exists in the lives of parents, guardians, and other family members. Therefore, we approach all interactions with respect and care to ensure comfortability and build a trusting partnership with each family we serve.
Our Philosophy. CHSofNJ’s HS/EHS program actively encourages parent participation – in the classroom, at HS/EHS events, and in administering the program. We recognize parents as their child’s first and best teacher, and we are committed to partnering with parents to help their children and families achieve their full potential!
Interested in working for Head Start or Early Head Start?
Read teacher testimonials below, and view our available positions at our Careers page.
Geanilda, a site supervisor for the largest of CHSofNJ’s Head Start centers since 2014 loves seeing students’ smiles as they greet her and their teachers each morning. “I think the most rewarding part of my job is having the ability to welcome families who return to our program year after year. It’s wonderful seeing kids stay with us for two years and observing their growth and how ready they are to head into kindergarten.” Here’s Geanilda’s advice to aspiring Head Start teachers or those considering a career at Head Start: “I would tell any teacher that if they are looking to make a genuine impact in a child’s life, Head Start is the place to be. The high quality, comprehensive services we offer to the whole child and family is an amazing experience.” Geanilda summarizes Head Start in one word: Growth.
Jillian, a teacher at CHSofNJ Head Start gives children a reason to be happy to come to school each day! And she feels the same way about her students. “The most rewarding aspect of my job is seeing the faces of my students when they arrive each morning, joyful and excited to be there to learn. I also enjoy how happy they are to share new things they’ve learned and hearing them recount what they did over the weekend. But most of all, I feel proud when they master a new skill such as learning the alphabet or counting to 20.” If she had to use just one word to describe what Head Start offers children it would be: Opportunities.