CREC Head Start
Mission Statement
The mission of CREC Head Start is to develop children’s love of learning, foster parent’s leadership and advocacy skills, and partner with community agencies to provide holistic services that align with families’ identified needs.
CREC partners with Catholic Charities and The Village for Families and Children to serve 409 children, birth to 5 years and their families, throughout Hartford and Middlesex Counties.
The CREC Head Start and Early Head Start Program serves children ages birth to five based on need and eligibility according to the federal Head Start guidelines. The CREC Head Start program supports the growth and development in a positive learning environment, while using a whole child approach the offers comprehensive services to families, including:
Education: Classrooms are designed for young learners to learn through structured activities and free choice play. Our teachers use a research-based curriculum to create weekly lesson plans that individualize for their students, and that focus on skill building. Children are assessed three times a year and teachers meet with parents to discuss their child’s progress.
Health and Nutrition: The Head Start model reinforces the importance of physical, dental, nutritional, and social-emotional health. Our staff work with families to ensure that all children are up to date on recommended well-child and dental health visits. Our program works closely with community partners to offer dental screenings, mental health consultation, and nutritional health education on-site. Children learn best when their basic health and nutritional needs are being met, and we partner with parents to keep children feeling their best.
Family Support: CREC Head Start offers a multi-generational support system, recognizing that children have better educational and health outcomes when the families are connected to resources that promote their well-being. Program staff develop individualized plans with families, and foster their leadership and advocacy abilities, in order to meet the goals they have set for themselves.
Our Locations
| Location | Ages 0-2 | Ages 3-5 | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| CREC Head Start at the Swift Factory | 10 Love Lane, Hartford | ||
| CREC Head Start at the Roger Wolcott Early Learning Center | 451 Windsor Avenue, Windsor | ||
| CREC South | 261 Locust Street, Hartford | ||
| CREC Middletown | Wilbert Snow Elementary 299 Wadsworth Street, Middletown |
||
| Catholic Charities: SS Cyril & Methodius Child Development Center |
45 Groton Street, Hartford | ||
| Catholic Charities: Institute for Hispanic Families |
53 Wadsworth Street, Hartford |
This website is supported by Grant Number 01CH011663 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 Capitol Region Education Council (CREC), and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.
Contact
CREC Central
111 Charter Oak Ave
Hartford, CT 06106
860-247-CREC
©2025 Capitol Region Education Council