Head Start Overview

CAPRW Head Start: Where Children and Families Learn, Grow, and Belong.

Compassion ● Belonging ● Resilience ● Commitment

Now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 program year!

What is Head Start & Early Head Start?

Community Action Head Start is a no-cost child and family development program for pregnant individuals and families with children ages birth to 5 years old living in Ramsey County. Services focus on school-readiness skills to prepare children for kindergarten by utilizing developmentally-appropriate and social-emotional curriculum.

Our staff speak multiple languages and we encourage children to learn their home language as well as English. Children who have an IEP/IFSP and different health needs are welcomed and included in all program activities. 

Early Head Start is a home- and center-based program for pregnant individuals and children ages birth to 3 years old. Community Action Early Head Start's family-driven philosophy empowers parents and caregivers to support and nurture their children. Our  program empowers families to build their capacity and competencies to be their child’s first and most important teacher.

Check out our four-star Parent Aware rating and explore other Parent Aware resources!

Program Options For Eligible Families

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*CCAP or Pathway 1 funding required for Early Head Start and Head Start Full Day/Full Year

All program options include free meals, family fun and parent engagement events, diapers and wipes (if age applicable), and support from our family services and health teams.

Am I Eligible?

You must reside within Ramsey County and  meet at least one of the following:

• Receiving Public Assistance (SNAP, MFIP, or SSI)

• Foster Care child

• Experiencing Homelessness (lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing)

• Living at or below the current Federal Poverty Guidelines (see below)

*Proof of citizenship is not required.

*For families or households with more than 8 persons, add $5,680 for each additional person. 

*A program may adjust a family’s gross income to reflect high housing costs when determining eligibility. (Housing costs include: rent or mortgage, insurance, electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash, and home taxes or interest.)

Head Start Annual Reports, Community Assessments and other Publications

Head Start Main Office 

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Community Action Resource Center, Suite 5450 Syndicate Street North St. Paul, MN 55104

* Community Action is an equal opportunity provider.

This website is supported by Grant Number 05CH012718 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling 866-632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail:U.S. Department of AgricultureOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights1400 Independence Avenue, SWWashington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

fax:833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442; or

email:Program.Intake@usda.gov