SALISBURY, MD—SHORE UP! Inc.’s Early Head Start program is recruiting eligible families on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore to receive services at no cost. To qualify, applicants must, be pregnant or be the parent of a child from birth to 3-years old, meet federally established income guidelines and live in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico or Worcester county. Early Head Start is a federally funded program that provides comprehensive services to eligible pregnant women, infants and toddlers ages newborn to 3, including those with disabilities, and their families.
The program’s goals are to promote healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, enhance the development of infants and toddlers and promote healthy family functioning.
SHORE UP! utilizes both a center-based option and a home-based option for the Early Head Start program. In the center-based option, children from 6 weeks to 3 years old are enrolled and provided with developmentally appropriate learning experiences 9 am-3 pm at a SHORE UP! Inc. Head Start Center. Families with children with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The children are fed using the guidelines of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, part of the federal Nutrition Food Service. Transportation services may be provided.
In the home-based option, an Early Head Start staff member visits the home of the pregnant woman or family with a child ages newborn to 3, at least once weekly for 90 minutes. Pregnant teens are encouraged to apply for this option. Parents are provided with support in regard to pregnancy issues, parenting, and the overall health and well-being of the family.
In Wicomico and Somerset counties, both home-based and center-based services are available. In Dorchester and Worcester counties, only home-based services are available.
At SHORE UP! Inc., no person shall on the grounds of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, or disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of or otherwise be subject to discrimination in the provision of any care, service or admission.
For more information about Early Head Start, please call 410-749-1142 for Somerset, Wicomico or Worcester counties, 410-901-2015 for Dorchester County.
