The agency provides early childhood education services through a variety of programs in Los Angeles County. Services include a Head Start Delegate Agency through the L A County Office of Education for children, age 3 to 5; infant care programs, for children from birth to age 3; general child care centers for children 18 months to age 5; and preschool programs for children age 3 to 5. Geographic restrictions apply for some programs. Head Start service area is restricted to zip codes 90001, 90002, 90058, 90255, 90280.

The Head Start programs provide comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social and other services to economically disadvantaged children and their families, primarily to preschool children 3 years old to the age of compulsory school attendance. Intake is done through the Huntington Park Head Start Office. There are 7 Head Start sites in their service area. Service area is restricted to zip codes 90001, 90255 and 90280. The agency also operates a home-based Head Start program that provides weekly home educational visits to the child's parent's home and organized socialization experiences for a small group of children once each month.

The Infant/Toddler program for low income families provides low cost infant/toddler care from birth to age 3 in child care homes throughout LA County and in other surrounding counties. For referrals call the MAOF Goodrich Family Resource Center. The site is located at White Memorial Hospital; a subsidy program offers infant toddler care services in the home.

The agency operates 8 licensed child day care centers for children, 18 months to 5 years, in Los Angeles County. Intake for the child care centers is through the Administrative Office in Montebello.

The agency also provides a preschool program for low-income children, ages 3 to 5 years, at 8 centers in Los Angeles County. The preschool program helps children develop language and social skills and to prepare for kindergarten. The intake is conducted through the MAOF Goodrich Family Resource Center, which is also one of the preschool sites.

The agency provides child care provider training services for people who are interested in becoming a licensed day care provider. Services include technical assistance and workshops about child care-related topics. The agency also sponsors bilingual licensing meetings which are sponsored in conjunction with the State Department of Social Services (DSS), Community Care Licensing Division. The agency also provides information regarding child care issues.

A bilingual/bicultural resource lending library is available for child care providers which includes books about infant care, nutrition, health and safety, and child development. The library also loans educational toys and equipment for children, age seven and younger to child care providers.

Child and family services include information and referral to counseling agencies, parenting classes, and other community service agencies. APPLICATION PROCEDURE Call to apply or for an appointment.

Multiple agencies may provide Head Start or Early Head Start services within a given zip code. In such cases, the agencies will only serve a part of the zip code. Individuals must call all the agencies providing services within a zip code to determine which agency serves their exact address. FEES/PAYMENT SOURCE There may be fees for some child care programs.