ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS AVAILABLE!

  • After the application is submitted, a staff person will contact you to verify information and complete the application process.
  • If you would like to take an application for the sibling of a currently enrolled child, please do not fill out this application. Please contact your local center or call our main office at 454-2200 (during the summer months). If you move locations, within our service area, call our office, as a new application is not needed.
  • After you complete the online application you can email the required information to dteasley@eastmoaa.org or fax it to 573-431-2129
  • We will need a birth certificate, immunization record and 12 months proof of income (such as your latest tax return, proof of TANF/SNAP/SSI recipient, or Foster Placement Letter).

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO FILL OUT AN ONLINE APPLICATION:

EMAA Head Start Application

PARENTS NEED TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

  • Child’s birth certificate or hospital record
  • Proof of income:
    • Last year’s income tax return
    • Current SSI printout from Social Security office
    • Social Security Disability 1099 form or printout from Social Security office for all members of the family
    • Current TANF printout from Family Support Division
    • Current SNAP printout from Family Support Division
    • If you do not have the above, a letter from all employers stating gross wages and beginning and ending dates of employment.

**If you do not have all of these, your contact person will help you.

PRIORITY CONSIDERATIONS

  • Income: The child’s income must fall below the poverty guidelines of the Administration for Children and Families. https://aspe.hhs.gov/2020-poverty-guidelines (We realize that these guidelines are low; however, this is a federal funding requirement.)
  • Age: Must be turning three in the current program year and not be school-age (5-years-old before August 1). Older children have higher priority.
    • Once age and income guidelines are met, selection is based on those with the highest priorities:
  • No caregiver in the home: Both parents are working, in school or on disability or a combination of these or a single parent who meets one of these criteria receive higher priority.
  • Disability: Children enrolled in the school’s early childhood special education program receive higher priority. Head Start must serve 10% children with disabilities.
  • Exception: Over-income children who are enrolled in the public school’s early childhood special education program will be considered if Head Start would be the best placement.
  • Special family circumstances also are given higher priority: These are homelessness, living in a shelter, abuse or neglect, incarceration of a parent; recent death or terminal illness of immediate family member, disability or mental illness of immediate family member; suspected disability of the applicant child; and/or children living in a home other than a child’s parent (e.g. relative) who has legal custody of the child.

Note: Parents can explain the above special circumstances. A professional such as a doctor or Parents As Teachers needs to write a referral letter explaining other special circumstances or problems of the child or family.