San Bernardino County Preschool Services Department

The County of San Bernardino's Preschool Services Department (PSD) administers the Head Start, Early Head Start and State Preschool programs which provide comprehensive child development and family services in locations throughout the County.

PSD serves approximately 6000 disadvantaged families with children ages 0 to 5 and pregnant women.

PSD’s priority population includes children in foster care and/or under the care of Child Protective Services (CPS), those who are homeless and children with special needs and/or disabilities.



HEAD START
Head start is a national program which provides comprehensive developmental services for children ages 3 to 5 and their families.

This program provides specific services such as:
• Health and Social Services
• Developmental and Behavioral Screenings
• School Readiness

Head Start school year offers:
• Program Year: July to June (traditional)
• Part Day – 3 ½ hours per day for 9 months
• Full Day – 8 hours per day, year round
• Home Based – One 90 minute home visit per week.

All children are screened, assessed and referred (if needed) to ensure their basic health needs are met.

Parent education, family support and social services are designed to support and empower Head Start families, assisting them in becoming economically self-sufficient and helping them identify and achieve personal family goals.



EARLY HEAD START
The Early Head Start (EHS) program was established to assist pregnant women, infants and toddlers to age 3. EHS assists with enhancing:
• Children’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual development
• Access to comprehensive prenatal and post-partum care for pregnant
women
• Parent education on their child’s development
• Parent’s efforts to fulfill their parental roles and move towards self-
sufficiency.



STATE PRESCHOOL
The State Preschool program is a comprehensive child development program that provides a safe and nurturing hands-on learning environment that helps each child reach his/her highest potential in the areas of:
• Social Development
• Cognitive/Creative Development
• Language Development
• Physical Development

State Preschools are located throughout the County and offer a 3 hour program Monday through Friday. Morning and afternoon classes are often available.



CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND/OR DISABILITIES
Head Start requires that 10% of its slots be reserved for children with special needs and/or disabilities. Children with suspected disabilities are referred to an appropriate school district or program. Disability services include:
• Speech/Language Impairments
• Hearing Impairments
• Learning Disabilities
• Blindness/Visual Impairments
• Other Impairments

Head Start requires classroom inclusion for children with disabilities. Individualized Educational Plans/Individualized Family Service Plans ensure that programs work with children and families to provide quality learning opportunities.



NURSE VISITATION PROGRAM
The Nurse Visitation Program improves the health and social functioning of low-income first-time mothers and their babies through home visitations by a nurse. The nurse home visitors follow a visitation schedule that consists of one 90 minute home visit per week over a two and half (2 ½) year period.



PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION
Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) programs provide strategies and activities that aid teaching staff and parents the opportunity to identify social, emotional and behavioral signs/symptoms to deter onset of a behavioral condition. PEI programs also assist with linking program participants in need of additional services to:
• Appropriate mental health providers
• Support groups for parents and caretakers
• Primary care providers


For more information on the programs and services offered through the Preschool Services Department, contact us at:

(888) KIDS-025 or (888) 543-7025