Enrollment Process

Step 1

Complete

Families interested in learning more about our program may inquire or enroll year-round. At HHRC, we understand how important attending a quality preschool is for your child. We know the application and enrollment process can be stressful. We have a team of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Specialists ready to help each family through the process.

Step 2

Student Selection

Our Child Development Centers fill up fast and remain fully enrolled throughout the school year. The start of the enrollment period is during late spring and early summer months for the following new school year. As slots open throughout the year, we will enroll anyone remaining on the waitlist.

To apply for little or no cost services, please follow the steps below.

  1. ·Complete an online pre-application form. Click link HERE.

  2. A FACE Specialist will contact you within 3 to 5 business days to schedule an appointment.

  3. Bring the following documents required for your appointment.

  • Child’s birth certificate

  • Proof of Guardianship/Custody (if applicable)

  • Proof of Income

  • TANF / SSI / SNAP Eligibility Letter (if applicable)

  • Parent’s Photo Identification

  • 2 Proofs of Residence

  • Medical Insurance

  • WIC Card (if eligible)

  • Documentation of Child’s Disability – IEP / IFSP / Treatment or Care Plan (if applicable)

Our selection and enrollment process are as follows:

  1. During the open enrollment period, Selection Meetings are held to select children for open slots based on their application points and age for the corresponding open slots. Should a slot become available during the school year, the next eligible child that meets the age criteria is selected.

  2. Parents of selected children are notified and must attend an Intake and Orientation Session. An Enrollment Packet will be completed. This includes general and emergency contact information, the enrollment agreement, health history and nutritional assessment, required acknowledgements, and review of the programs policies and procedures.  All health forms are reviewed to ensure that children’s individual needs can be met and accommodations for special diets, individual health plans, individual education plans and/or treatment plans are in place prior to a child starting.

  3. Once a child’s Enrollment Packet is complete, the parent will be issued a start date. Parents must notify their FACE Specialist if their child will not be able to start on their assigned start date.

  4. During the child’s first 45 days of attendance and with parental consent, children will receive developmental, behavioral, and sensory (hearing and vision) screening. If needed, the child will be referred for early intervention services that can be provided on-site depending on the level of intervention needed by the child. 

  • Both Child Development Centers are open Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 5:30pm.

  • Yes. HHRC is a full year program. Our school year operates from August to July.

  • No. We ask that parents or guardians make accommodations for the child to attend HHRC.

  • No. Only authorized individuals, 18 years of age or older, listed on the Emergency Contact and Release Form, can pick up your child. These individuals must show appropriate identification. (Acceptable forms of ID: Driver’s License, State issue ID Card, Passport, etc.)

  • Parents who are running late must call the front office of the Center and notify the staff of the situation, as well as contact any of the individuals listed on the Emergency Contact and Release Form who can arrive before the parent to come and pick up the child. Parents are encouraged to plan ahead and plan for their child to be picked up when their schedule conflicts with a timely pick-up. 

  • There are many costs associated with operating a quality comprehensive early childhood education program. At HHRC, we offer a variety of programs that include Head Start, Early Head Start, Florida VPK, School Readiness, and Private Pay. Depending on a family’s household income and the program in which the child is enrolled, a family may have no-cost, low-cost, or full-cost services.

  • The number of children in a classroom varies by the age of the child.  One- and two-year-old classes have approximately 8 children for every two teachers. In three- and four-year-old classrooms, this varies from 15 to 20 children for every two teachers.

  • Parents will be provided with a tour of their assigned child development center, which includes their assigned classroom or a similar one if the child has not yet been assigned a classroom. The week before school starts, parents will be given the opportunity to visit their child’s assigned classroom and meet the Teachers.

  • At HHRC, we use the Frog Street Curriculum for Toddlers, Threes, and Pre-K. Frog Street provides a comprehensive continuum of research-based curriculum, which is aligned with state and national learning standards, including the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, and incorporates the social-emotional development learning program Conscious Discipline®.

  • Many of our teaching staff are bilingual, speaking English and Spanish, and in some cases English and Creole, and can speak to the children in their native language while providing instruction in English.

  • Yes. Each Child Development Center is focused on the learning and well-being of each child.

  • Yes. We offer the VPK program to all eligible 4-year-old children. To be eligible, children must be 4 years old by September 1st of each year. Children can only attend part-time for VPK if and when there are Part-time slots available.

  • Yes. Our FACES staff are trained in assisting parents to complete all applications for services and resources in Palm Beach County.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. Children who do not want to participate in holidays or school events for personal or religious reasons may be exempt from participation.

  • No.  As a federally funded program, we are not able to ask anyone about their immigration status.

  • Yes, we have cameras in every classroom. We take the safety and security of every child seriously. Should a concern be raised about what happened in a classroom, someone from the Management Team will review the camera feed to assess the concern. Because we have programs that serve at-risk children, parents or guardians cannot have access to the cameras for privacy issues and to ensure that we follow and maintain all confidentiality protocols.

  • No. Children do not wear uniforms at HHRC. All children are required to wear closed-toe shoes or sneakers while at the Center.

  • No. Jewelry, although very nice, is a safety hazard for the child during playtime.

  • Yes. HHRC participates in the USDA Child Care Food Program and provides Breakfast, Lunch and a PM Snack daily to all children enrolled.

  • No. For the safety of children with food allergies and other medical dietary restrictions, outside food cannot be accepted at the center.

  • Yes. Accommodation to provide approved substitutions for food allergies and other special dietary restrictions are made with appropriate medical statements that detail the food restrictions and appropriate substitutions. Children with food allergies and/or other dietary restrictions will need to have a CCFP Medical Statement Form completed and signed by their licensed Physician prior to their first date of attendance.

  • Our Center Directors and/or Family and Community Engagement Specialist are always available to answer any questions you have as well as connect you with the appropriate staff and resources. Additionally, all children with parental consent receive developmental, behavioral, and sensory screening within the first 45 days of attending. When necessary, children are referred to for formal evaluations and intervention services.

  • Yes. These are legal documents covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Children who receive early intervention services may continue to receive them while attending HHRC.

  • Yes. HHRC has partnerships with community agencies that allow many of our children to receive therapeutic services on-site. These services include speech, occupational, and behavioral therapies. Each child’s individual plan determines whether a child qualifies to receive services on-site, part-time off-site, or full-time off-site.

  • With the proper Medication Authorization Form on file completed and signed by a licensed Physician, medication that is required to be taken during the hours of care, can be administered at the center. 

  • Regular attendance is of the utmost importance to remain enrolled in the program. Funding for our programs is directly linked to your child’s attendance and most importantly regular attendance promotes school readiness and assists with your child’s success in school and life.