What Head Start Program does

Addie Mae Collins Community Service, Inc. (AMCCS) is a New York-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has delivered federal Head Start and NYC Early Learn programs in East Harlem since 1965, when it was founded in honor of Addie Mae Collins, one of the four girls killed in the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. The organization operates two physical sites in East Harlem — Site III at 2322 Third Avenue (serving 84 children in a double-session format) and Site II at 345 East 101st Street (serving 36 children in a full-day format) — for a total enrolled population of approximately 120 children ages 2–5 from low-income families in East Harlem, Central Harlem, and South Bronx.

Program delivery relies on established early-childhood frameworks — Creative Curriculum as the primary learning framework, Teaching Strategies GOLD for developmental assessment, Conscious Discipline for behavior regulation and social-emotional development, and Second Step for social-emotional curriculum. The integrated service model bundles educational instruction with health screenings, daily on-site meal preparation, mental-health and trauma-informed support, inclusive services for children with disabilities (mandated at 10% of enrollment), dual-language support across eight languages (English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Bengali, Mandarin, Twi, Fulani), and family engagement through home visits, parent-teacher conferences, policy committees, and workshops.

AMCCS operates on a managed-services revenue model funded primarily by federal, state, and city government grants — including the NYC Department of Education Early Learn Initiative and Administration for Children's Services allocations — supplemented by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. Services are provided at no cost to eligible families meeting Head Start income eligibility. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (Chairperson, Treasurer Yvonne Carey, Secretary Carrie Morris Sealy, volunteer Derrick Taitt) under a shared-governance model that includes a Delegate Agency Policy Council, Site Policy Committees, and a Parent Advisory Committee, and it is subject to annual independent financial audits, NYC DOH Article 47 inspections, and NYCDOE compliance checks.

Name

Head Start Program

Legal name

Addie Mae Collins Community Service, Inc.

Website

https://addiemaecollins.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Addie Mae Collins Community Service is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Head Start and Early Learn provider, founded in 1965, serving approximately 120 low-income children ages 2–5 across two East Harlem sites using Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD, and Conscious Discipline, funded primarily by government grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Child Care Services (62441), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Head Start & Publicly Funded Infant/Toddler Programs (EDACAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inclusion, Special Needs & Early Intervention Training (IEPs/IFSPs, Neurodiversity) (EDACAIAF), Parenting Skills & Child Development Education (EDACALAA)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Head Start programs
• Family support services
• Preschool education
• Early childhood development

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon, Ohio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a nonprofit Head Start and Early Learn program, AMCCS operates primarily through federal, state, and city government funding streams including NYC Department of Education Early Learn Initiative and Administration for Children's Services (ACS) allocations. Services are provided at no cost to eligible families meeting income and eligibility requirements.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants support program enrichment activities, special events, classroom sponsorship, and operational enhancements beyond government funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AMCCS operates federally funded Head Start and NYC Early Learn programs delivering high-quality early childhood education for children ages 2-5 from low-income families in East Harlem. The integrated service portfolio includes educational programming using Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD assessments, daily health and nutrition services, trauma-informed mental health support, and comprehensive family engagement services including home visits, parent workshops, and multilingual support. Services are provided at no cost to eligible families through two physical sites in East Harlem.

Product overview

Addie Mae Collins Community Service operates as a nonprofit early childhood education provider offering a unified program portfolio centered on Head Start and Early Learn services. The organization delivers high-quality early childhood education, health and nutrition services, mental health support, and comprehensive family engagement programs at two sites in East Harlem. The core offerings include Head Start programs, Early Learn NYC programs, and related support services that work together to provide holistic early childhood development for children ages 2-5 from underserved families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Head Start Program Federal early childhood education program providing high-quality educational services for children ages 2-5 from underserved families, including school readiness, health, nutrition, and family support services. Operated at no cost to eligible families meeting Head Start income and eligibility requirements.
• Early Learn Program NYC Early Learn Initiative blending Head Start, Child Care, and Universal Pre-K under NYC's Early Learn framework to provide comprehensive early education and family support to children ages 2-5. Provides extended hours and full-day programming for working families.
• Early Childhood Education Services High-quality educational programs building strong academic, social, and physical foundations through engaging learning experiences using Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD assessments. Aligned with NY State Common Core Standards and Head Start Performance Standards.
• Health & Nutrition Services Fresh, nutritious meals prepared daily, health screenings, nutrition education, and healthy habits supporting every child's growth and development, including the Eat Well Play Hard Champions Program. Provided to enrolled children as part of the integrated early childhood program.
• Mental Health Services Trauma-informed support, classroom guidance, developmental screenings, behavior support plans, mental health workshops for parents, and family resources promoting children's emotional well-being. Includes Conscious Discipline and Second Step social-emotional curriculum integration.
• Family Engagement Services Comprehensive family support including home visits, parent workshops, family events, volunteer opportunities, multilingual support across 8+ languages, and connections to community resources. Includes Parent Advisory Committee, Delegate Agency Policy Council, and Site Policy Committee participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Site II average waitlist: 39% of total slots; Site III average waitlist: 53% of total slots
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Reading TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiteracy partnership supporting reading readiness and language development. The Reading Team provides literacy enrichment activities and resources that complement AMCCS's early childhood education curriculum.
• Books for KidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiteracy partnership providing books and reading resources to children and families. Supports AMCCS's language and literacy development goals for children ages 2-5.
• A Forum for LifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth education partnership supporting family wellness initiatives. Provides resources and programming related to health education and healthy lifestyle development.
• East Harlem TrianglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development partnership supporting neighborhood-based initiatives. Collaboration focuses on strengthening community connections and family resources in the East Harlem community.
• Child ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild welfare partnership supporting family stability and child well-being. Provides coordination with child welfare services and support for families with open ACS cases.
• Community Food ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with local food programs support nutrition services and food security for enrolled families. Complements daily meal services provided by AMCCS.
• Local Housing Assistance AgenciesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with housing assistance agencies support family stability by connecting families with housing resources and support services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Beginnings Day Care: Small NYC-based early childhood provider serving low-income families in Manhattan with center-based programs. Comparable to AMCCS in serving a similar population with publicly funded early childhood slots, though at smaller scale.
• Sheltering Arms Children and Family Services: NYC Head Start and Early Head Start delegate agency serving low-income families across multiple boroughs. Directly comparable to AMCCS in operating federally funded center-based early childhood programs for children ages 2–5 in underserved communities.
• Little Flower Children and Family Services: Long-standing NYC nonprofit providing early childhood education, foster care, and family services. Comparable to AMCCS as a Head Start provider serving vulnerable children and families in the Bronx and surrounding neighborhoods.

Regional players

• Children of Promise: NYC-based Head Start and early childhood provider serving families in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Operates the same federal Head Start framework with similar compliance requirements, comparable scale, and community-based family engagement model.
• Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership: Community-based organization serving Harlem and the Bronx with maternal/child health, early childhood, and family support services. Comparable to AMCCS in delivering publicly funded early childhood and family engagement services in the same geographic corridor.
• East Harlem Tutorial Program: East Harlem-based education nonprofit operating after-school, tutoring, and early childhood programs for local families. Comparable in geographic focus and community-embedded model, though it does not operate as a Head Start delegate.

Broad incumbents

• Graham Windham: NYC's first private child welfare agency providing foster care, early childhood, and family services across multiple boroughs. Comparable to AMCCS in operating Head Start programs integrated with child welfare and family support services.
• Children's Aid Society: Long-standing NYC nonprofit providing early childhood, after-school, foster care, and health services across multiple sites. Operates Head Start/Early Learn programs serving low-income families in Harlem, the Bronx, and Staten Island, directly comparable to AMCCS's model.
• Harlem Children's Zone: One of the largest community-based education and social service organizations in Harlem, running Promise Academy charters and a wide range of cradle-to-career programs. Comparable to AMCCS in serving East/Central Harlem families with wraparound services, though at vastly greater scale and scope.
• The Children's Village: NYC nonprofit providing early childhood education, residential, and community-based services for children and families. Comparable to AMCCS as a Head Start delegate with a multi-site, multi-service model serving low-income families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/head-start-program

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Head Start Program