Welcome to
Growing Futures!
Our Mission
To nurture children and strengthen families to enrich our community.
Who We Are
Who We Are
Growing Futures Early Education Center, a Head Start for children and families, is a non-profit organization, providing quality early learning opportunities and family support services for children in Johnson County, Kansas. Our Early Head Start and Head Start programs are for children 0-5 and their families. Enrolled families also have access to a variety of comprehensive support services, including health and nutrition services, onsite play therapy, parent education, mental health, medical and dental health, family support and engagement opportunities. Our education program focuses on developing a child’s academic readiness, along with an emphasis on social and emotional development.
Growing Futures opened its doors in 1965 as a Head Start summer enrichment program for 17 preschool-aged children from low-income families, making us one of the original Head Start programs. Today, we serve 223 low-income children and their families with Early Head Start and Head Start programs and we regularly maintain a wait list of more than 200 children.
Although our program has grown since 1965 to meet the increasing needs of Johnson County families, our funding has not kept pace with the demand for services. More than 32,500 Johnson County residents, or 5.6% of the population, lives below the federal poverty level with 3,900 of those residents being children, ages 0-5. Thousands more earn just enough to avoid the technical definition of poverty, which is $24,860 for a family of three. During the past decade, Johnson County's population grew by 20%, while the number of people living in poverty increased by 134%. Now, more than ever, our services are desperately needed.
We rely heavily on support from our community partners, corporate sponsors, donors, local grants and our volunteers. There are so many ways to get involved with Growing Futures and we hope you will join us in our mission - to nurture children and strengthen families to enrich our community.
Calendar
Policy Council
April 18
Early Release/PD
May 24
Parent Committee
May 2
Home Based Playgroup
May 2
Policy Council
May 16
Closed for Staff & Children/Holiday
May 27
Last Day Extended Day Students
June 6
Parent Committee
June 6
Closed for Staff & Students/Holiday
June 19
Last Day WAC/EHS Students
June 28
Policy Council
June 20
Get Involved
We greatly appreciate all of our volunteers! Did you know that each hour volunteered counts as $31.80 toward our non-federal goal? A half day group project can raise a significant amount for our organization!
Our Vision
Growing Futures Early Education Center will be a leading center of excellence in the growth and development of young children and support of their families.
Contact Us!
Growing Futures Early Education Center
8155 Santa Fe Drive
Overland Park, KS 66204
913-649-9714