This Is Albuquerque: Department Of Family & Community Services

\ Mar 03, 2016

3 min read

Department of Family & Community Services

Early Childhood Development

The City of Albuquerque’s Department of Family and Community Services provides low cost, high quality care and education for children ages 6 weeks old to 5 years old at 25 Child Development Centers, as well as through home-based visits to support families with children’s ongoing development and learning through its Division of Child and Family Development. The Division has four programs, each with its own focus and eligibility requirements:

Early Head Start Program: for children ages 6 weeks to age 3

• Center-based component–six city centers plus partnerships with Catholic Charities and Cuidando Los Ninos.

• Home-based component–five Home Visitors who meet with parents and children in the home on a weekly basis.

• Parents must be working 30 hours a week or attending school full-time to qualify for the center-based option, eligibility is based on family income.

• Parents do not have to be working or attending school to qualify for the home-based option, eligibility is based on family income.

• There is no fee to participate in the Early Head Start Program.

Preschool Program: for children ages 3–5 years of age

• Parents must be working 30 hours a week or attending school full-time to qualify.

• Eligibility is based on family income.

• There is a sliding fee based on the number in household and the family income. Fees range from $25–$40 per week, per child. There is a sibling discount for a second child in the program who is attending at the same time.

Early Pre-K Program: for children who are age 3 by Sept.

• There is no requirement for parents to be working or going to school.

• There is no charge for the Early Pre-K program hours of 9am–noon. If parents need extended services, before 9am or after noon, there is a sliding fee based on the number in household and the family income. Fees range from $25-$105 per week, per child. There is a sibling discount for a second child in the program who is attending at the same time.

Pre-K Program: for children who are age 4 by Sept.

• There is no requirement for parents to be working or going to school.

• There is no charge for the Pre-K program hours of 9am–noon. If parents need extended services, before 9am or after noon, there is a sliding fee based on the number in household and the family income. Fees range from $25-$105 per week, per child. There is a sibling discount for a second child in the program who is attending at the same time.

All 21 of the Preschool/ Early Pre-K and Pre-K centers are nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

For more information, please contact the Department of Family and Community Services Division of Child and Family Development main office by phone, 505-767-6560, and you will be guided to the appropriate program.