Head start and early head start

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded Human Services Inc. $10.37 million on January 1, 2026, under the Head Start program (CFDA 93.600) to deliver early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family support services through December 31, 2030.

Human Services Inc., a Columbus, Indiana-based nonprofit, serves pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children in south-central Indiana counties including Bartholomew, Decatur, Jackson, Johnson, and Shelby. The award funds comprehensive developmental services designed to promote school readiness and enhance cognitive, physical, behavioral, and social-emotional development. Services include educational programming, nutritional support, health screenings, and family engagement activities that position vulnerable young children from low-income families for success in school and beyond.

The five-year project grant supports Head Start's dual-program structure: local Head Start Preschool programs serving primarily 3- and 4-year-old children, and Early Head Start programs serving infants, toddlers, and pregnant women. Human Services Inc. brings documented experience administering federal early childhood programs, having received over $41 million in historical Head Start funding. The organization also operates as a subrecipient under multiple prime grantees implementing related poverty alleviation and family services programs across the same Indiana service area.

Performance occurs statewide in Indiana with administrative operations based in Columbus.