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Register for Daycare: Head Start and Early Head Start

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Head Start / Early Head Start Website

Program provides center based early childhood development services at five sites throughout Manatee County for children from six weeks to five years old. Services also include comprehensive and include education, health, including oral and mental health, family engagement and nutrition.

Service Output: Supervised Care

Hours Available: Monday – Friday 8am-5pm; other times vary based on the age of the child

Eligibility: Manatee County residents, Ages six weeks to 5 years, Meet income qualifications for the program

Service Operators

Step Up Suncoast

Step Up Suncoast, formerly known as Manatee Community Action Agency, Inc. and Manatee Opportunity Council, Inc., was incorporated in 1968 as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to Florida law and was designated by the Governor as the community action agency for its service area.Step Up Suncoast received its first grant of $90,000 in 1965 and was administered by Suncoast Progress of St. Petersburg, Florida. This relationship was maintained until the incorporation of the Agency in 1968.Since its beginning in 1968, Step Up Suncoast has grown from a summer project of serving 510 children with 34 staff members and a $90,000 budget to over 11,000 services annually, 250 staff members and an annual budget of $18,000,000.