Why choose Head Start?
Miami Valley Child Development Centers is southwest Ohio’s Head Start agency. For over 55 years, we’ve been providing FREE early learning and child care to children from 6 weeks to age 5.
What sets us apart is our two-generational approach that builds family well-being by simultaneously working with children and the adults in their lives to access new resources, solve problems and sharpen existing skills. We have Family Support Specialists, Home Visitors and Coaches ready to partner with you on this journey.
In most cases, families must earn 100% of the Federal Poverty Level or less. Children experiencing homelessness or who are in foster or kinship care also are eligible. In some cases, children with disabilities may qualify.
We have full-day and part-day options at our more than 50 convenient locations in Montgomery, Clark, Greene and Madison counties. Some programs offer FREE transportation.
All MVCDC self-operated programs are highly rated under Ohio’s Step Up to Quality initiative. Most have 5 Stars–the highest distinction.
Get involved
MVCDC has an advisory committee of parents and caregivers who help us make decisions and set policies. MVCDC’s Policy Council is a group of parents and community representatives who help make decisions and set policies. Families can get involved by contacting their Family Support Specialist or their child’s teacher. We encourage families to participate in these opportunities throughout their child’s time with us.
Family engagement participation opportunities include meetings, home visits and parent-teacher conferences, volunteering in the classroom, parent committee meetings, parenting curriculum training as well as our fatherhood initiatives.
Our group meets monthly. To get involved, contact us. We also have volunteer opportunities and regular parent meetings.
Early Head Start
If your child is 6 weeks–age 3
Early Head Start serves children from 6 weeks to age 3.
In our full-day program, children may attend 6 or 10 hours each day, Monday through Friday.
Teachers will help your baby or toddler reach important developmental milestones — learning to sit, crawl, walk and say their first words. They will read, talk and sing to your child, even screen for developmental delays and connect you with early intervention specialists.
Teachers will keep you up-to-date about your child’s progress through daily conversations, parent-teacher conferences and required home visits.
If you aren’t ready to send your child to an early learning program, we also can provide a home visitor who will meet with you for 1.5 hours each week. They’ll share teaching tips, fun activities to do with your child and help you set goals for your family. We organize group activities for families receiving home-based care twice each month.
Finally, we have a number of partner programs. Teachers will help your child learn letters, numbers and sounds, and they’ll teach your child about working and playing well with others. These are private child care centers that offer MVCDC’s comprehensive services, but are a separate business.
All programs are open to children with disabilities.
Check out our staff, curriculum
With over 26 centers surrounding 3 Counties, MVCDC also have multiple community partnerships to service the needs of children and families.
64% of Head Start teachers have a bachelor’s degree
100% of teachers in our program have earned a minimum of a Child Development Associate credential
73% of teachers at Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships have earned a Child Development Associate credential or are in the process of doing so
54% of our staff have worked at MVCDC for 5 years or more
100% of MVCDC’s self-operated centers are rated as “high quality” under Ohio’s Step Up to Quality initiative
We served 131,779 breakfasts, 137,086 lunches and 132,474 snacks during the program year
Successfully completed our Focus Area 2 federal review with 100% compliance with all regulations
We use an evidence-based curriculum known as HighScope that emphasizes learning through play. Lessons focus on problem-solving, good decision-making and independence. Our classrooms and educational materials build on children’s interests, accommodate different developmental and ability levels and reflect diverse cultures.
We also practice Conscious Discipline, a proven behavior management program that helps children control their emotions and learn how to deal with frustration and disappointment.
We’ll also introduce you to Triple P – short for Positive Parenting Program.
Triple P doesn’t tell you how to be a parent. It’s a toolbox of ideas. You choose the strategies you want to use.
Triple P helps you:
Raise happy, confident children
Manage misbehavior
Set rules and routines
Encourage behavior you like
Take care of yourself
Feel confident you’re doing the right thing
See our healthy menus
If your child is in a full-day program, they’ll receive a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and a healthy snack to go. If they are in our part-day programs, they’ll also get nutritious meals and snacks while they’re with us. AM children get breakfast and lunch, while PM children receive lunch and a snack.
We’ll help your child stay healthy
We’ll help you get medical care for your child by connecting you with our community partners that provide:
Immunizations
Health checks and physicals
Speech/language screenings
Hearing and vision exams
Dental exams
Lead/ Hemoglobin Screenings
We’ll support you
You are your child’s first and best teacher! We ask you to work with your child’s teachers, your Family Support Specialists/Home Visitor and to participate in our “Classroom to Home” activities. We know you want to keep your child learning at home!
We’ll have lots of opportunities to interact, including at enrollment meetings, orientations, parent-teacher conferences, home visits, in your child’s classroom and during parent committee meetings/trainings. You’ll also meet other great MVCDC families!
Head Start
If your child is age 3–5
Head Start serves children from age 3 to 5 and is focused on getting children ready for kindergarten so they start school on track — not behind.
Children in our full-day program attend 6 or 10 hours, Monday through Friday. (Most of these classrooms operate year-round.)
Those in our part-day program attend Monday through Thursday for 3.5 hours in the morning or afternoon. (We also have a 6-hour option in some centers that operate from 9-3 much like a school day.)
Teachers will help your child learn letters, numbers and sounds, and they’ll teach your child about working and playing well with others. They’ll even start working on early reading and math skills. If you’re worried your child is behind in any way, they’ll connect you with early intervention specialists. We will complete a developmental screening for you child within 45-days of enrollment and work with you to individualize the best educational approach to meet their needs.
Teachers will keep you up-to-date about your child’s progress through daily conversations, parent-teacher conferences and required home visits.
If you aren’t ready to send your child to an early learning program, we also can provide a home visitor who will meet with you for 1.5 hours each week. They’ll share teaching tips, fun activities to do with your child and help you set goals for your family. We organize group activities for families receiving home-based care twice each month.
Finally, we have a number of partner programs. These are private child care centers and family childcare that offer MVCDC’s comprehensive services, but are a separate business.
All programs are open to children with disabilities.
Check out our staff, curriculum
With over 26 centers surrounding 3 Counties, MVCDC also have multiple community partnerships to service the needs of children and families.
64% of Head Start teachers have a bachelor’s degree
100% of teachers in our program have earned a minimum of a Child Development Associate credential
73% of teachers at Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships have earned a Child Development Associate credential or are in the process of doing so
54% of our staff have worked at MVCDC for 5 years or more
100% of MVCDC’s self-operated centers are rated as “high quality” under Ohio’s Step Up to Quality initiative
We served 131,779 breakfasts, 137,086 lunches and 132,474 snacks during the program year
Successfully completed our Focus Area 2 federal review with 100% compliance with all regulations
We use an evidence-based curriculum known as HighScope that emphasizes learning through play. Lessons focus on problem-solving, good decision-making and independence. Our classrooms and educational materials build on children’s interests, accommodate different developmental and ability levels and reflect diverse cultures.
We also practice Conscious Discipline, a proven behavior management program that helps children control their emotions and learn how to deal with frustration and disappointment.
We’ll also introduce you to Triple P – short for Positive Parenting Program.
Triple P doesn’t tell you how to be a parent. It’s a toolbox of ideas. You choose the strategies you want to use.
Triple P helps you:
Raise happy, confident children
Manage misbehavior
Set rules and routines
Encourage behavior you like
Take care of yourself
Feel confident you’re doing the right thing
See our healthy menus
If your child is in a full-day program, they’ll receive a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and a healthy snack to go. If they are in our part-day programs, they’ll also get nutritious meals and snacks while they’re with us. AM children get breakfast and lunch, while PM children receive lunch and a snack.
We’ll help your child stay healthy
We’ll help you get medical care for your child by connecting you with our community partners that provide:
Immunizations
Health checks and physicals
Speech/language screenings
Hearing and vision exams
Dental exams
Lead/ Hemoglobin Screenings
We’ll support you
You are your child’s first and best teacher! We ask you to work with your child’s teachers, your Family Support Specialists/Home Visitor and to participate in our “Classroom to Home” activities. We know you want to keep your child learning at home!
We’ll have lots of opportunities to interact, including at enrollment meetings, orientations, parent-teacher conferences, home visits, in your child’s classroom and during parent committee meetings/trainings. You’ll also meet other great MVCDC families!