Oklahoma Head Start Collaboration Office (OKACAA)

The Oklahoma Head Start Collaboration Office, housed within OKACAA, links families to Head Start and Early Head Start programs run by local agencies across the state. Those programs deliver free early education along with health screenings and family support services.

What it offers

• A statewide point of contact for finding the nearest Head Start or Early Head Start grantee
• Free early learning experiences that prepare young children for kindergarten
• Routine health, dental, and developmental screenings built into enrollment
• Family services that connect parents with community resources and support
• Early Head Start options that reach infants, toddlers, and expectant families

Who it is for

Head Start generally serves income-eligible families with young children, and certain groups may qualify automatically under federal rules. The collaboration office is a helpful starting point for parents who know they want early education but are not sure which local agency serves their community. Families with infants and toddlers can ask specifically about Early Head Start, which begins support at the earliest ages. Current eligibility guidelines are posted on the official site.

Getting started

To begin, families reach out to the collaboration office or contact a local Head Start grantee agency directly to ask about openings and enrollment. Staff explain which documents are needed, confirm eligibility, and schedule the intake steps that follow. Because programs are operated by separate local agencies, the collaboration office is especially useful for pointing parents toward the right one for their area and saving them the trouble of tracking it down alone.

How it fits with other help

Head Start rarely stands alone in a family’s plan. Because programs bundle early learning with health, dental, and developmental screenings, they often pair naturally with a child’s regular medical home and with nutrition programs a household may already use. Families enrolling a young child can ask how the screenings coordinate with care received elsewhere so nothing is duplicated.

The collaboration office is also a useful bridge to related early childhood support. Parents with infants and toddlers can ask specifically about Early Head Start, and those who also need help with food or child care costs can mention it, since staff frequently point families toward other community resources alongside enrollment.

For families with more than one young child, a single local grantee can sometimes serve siblings in different age groups, from Early Head Start through preschool. Because programs run on their own enrollment timelines, reaching out ahead of the season a family has in mind gives the best chance of a place. Staff can explain what documents to gather once eligibility looks likely, so nothing holds up the intake.

Families can reach the collaboration office at (405) 949-1495 during regular business hours to be pointed toward the local grantee agency that serves their community, or they can contact that agency directly to ask about openings. Because Head Start generally serves income-eligible families and certain groups may qualify automatically under federal rules, parents who are unsure are encouraged to ask rather than assume, since staff can review a household’s situation. Families with infants and toddlers can ask specifically about Early Head Start, which begins support at the earliest ages, and because local programs enroll on their own timelines, reaching out ahead of the season a family has in mind gives the best chance of a place.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the Head Start nearest me?

The collaboration office can point you to the local grantee agency that serves your community. That agency handles enrollment directly, and its staff can tell you about current openings.

Is there an option for babies?

Yes. Early Head Start reaches infants, toddlers, and expectant families. Ask the office or a local grantee about current openings, since programs enroll at different times.

Does Head Start cost anything?

Head Start programs provide free early education to income-eligible families. Current eligibility guidelines are on the official site, and staff can confirm whether your household qualifies.

What if I am not sure we qualify?

It is worth asking, since certain groups may qualify automatically and criteria change over time. Staff can review your situation with you before you decide.