No-Cost Early Head Start. Enroll Now

Early Head Start

Early Head Start helps families get the best start in life.

We enrich parental skills, starting with prenatal development, and empower parents to be early childhood and educational advocates. Our holistic approach eliminates barriers to success and aids parents in becoming their child’s first teachers and leaders in their communities. We start with pregnant individuals and babies at birth and work with families until the child’s third birthday.

Services are provided at no cost to qualifying families in the Hawthorne zip code 90250, Inglewood zip codes of 90301, 90302, 90303, and 90305, and the South LA zip code of 90001. Families can enroll any time before the child’s turns 3. The earlier families enroll, the more support we can provide!

Our Services

For families with children under age 3:

  • Weekly visits with your child’s educator
  • Socialization groups
  • Social and health services
  • Educational activities
  • Support for families with special needs

For pregnant individuals: 

  • Twice-monthly visits
  • Social and health services
  • Pre- and post-natal education and support

Questions? Call 213-622-5237, ext. 223.

Eligibility

  • Proof of address (lease, rental agreement, or utility bill)
  • Proof of income (most recent paycheck stub, letter from employer, tax returns, or SNAP/TANF/CalWorks/SSI verification)
  • Child’s birth certificate
  • Current well baby exam
  • Up-to-date immunizations
  • Proof of medical insurance

Early Head Start Flyers & Videos (English & Spanish)

Thank you for sharing our Early Head Start program with families and pregnant individuals in South LA, Inglewood, and Hawthorne!

LAEP Early Head Start General Flyer - Bilingual
LAEP Early Head Start Social Media Graphics - English
LAEP Early Head Start Social Media Graphics - Spanish
LAEP Early Head Start Video - English
LAEP Early Head Start Video - Spanish
Early Head Start Annual Report 2023-2024
Early Head Start Annual Report 2022-2023
Early Head Start Annual Report 2021-2022
Early Head Start Annual Report 2020-2021
Early Head Start Annual Report 2019-2020
Early Head Start Annual Report 2018-2019

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Lend support for activities that make a difference in the lives of at-promise youth.

LaCora Stephens

Marketing and Communications

LaCora is a seasoned communications professional with a passion for using multimedia storytelling to empower movements for social justice and equality. For over 13 years, she has honed her skills as a versatile multimedia director, overseeing media operations across diverse organizations, including the NAACP Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch and The Shirley Chisholm Education Foundation. Her deep understanding of the education and equity landscape fuels her creative vision, allowing her to craft impactful narratives that resonate with audiences.

With strategic communication​ and collaboration, LaCora excels in developing and executing compelling​ multimedia campaigns that not only raise​ awareness of critical issues but also​ inspire action and drive meaningful change. Her proficiency in concept​ development, production execution, and​ team leadership ensures projects are​ delivered with exceptional quality. Furthermore, LaCora fosters strong​ relationships with internal and external​ stakeholders, cultivating partnerships​ that maximize campaign reach and impact.

LaCora's educational foundation began with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Education from Florida A&M University. She then pursued a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Alliant University of San Diego. This passion for storytelling, fueled by her background in education, translates to her belief in the power of shared narratives. Her work in this area was recognized through her selection as a Women in Film Mentee and film director for Viola Davis’ sponsored film showcase, Diversity in Cannes. Now, LaCora leverages her love of storytelling and commitment to educational equity in her role leading marketing and communications for Los Angeles Education Partnership, while also serving on the board of the Pasadena African American Film Foundation.

Eric Barela, Ph.D.

Senior Consultant, Raya Cooper Impact Consulting

Dr. Eric Barela has worked as a measurement & evaluation professional for over 2 decades, helping organizations to better understand and act on their social impact. He’s currently a Senior Consultant with Raya Cooper Impact Consulting and previously worked at Salesforce, where he led efforts to measure the social impact of the company’s work with nonprofits and educational institutions across the globe. He began his career working with the Los Angeles Unified School District and with the nonprofit, Partners in School Innovation. Eric previously served on the Board of the American Evaluation Association and currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the American Journal of Evaluation.

Eric grew up in East LA and was educated in the Montebello Unified School District. He holds a Ph.D. in education from UCLA. He loves a good road trip, with his husband serving as trusty navigator.