The Office of Head Start, through the Designation Renewal System (DRS), has named East Side House Settlement, Inc. as a new grant recipient to provide Early Head Start services for expectant families, pregnant women, infants, and toddlers in the South Bronx, including the communities of Hunts Point, Mott Haven, Highbridge, and Morrisania.
East Side House Settlement has provided Head Start and Early Head Start services for decades, supporting children and families across the Bronx and Northern Manhattan through high-quality early childhood education and comprehensive, family-centered supports. We are excited to expand our Early Head Start services to include a home-based program for expectant families, allowing us to begin support during pregnancy and strengthen outcomes from the earliest possible moment.
Founded more than 134 years ago, East Side House Settlement’s mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve educational and economic success and to strengthen communities through a cradle-to-career, multigenerational approach.
“This expansion represents a critical investment in families from the earliest possible moment,” said Daniel Diaz, Executive Director of East Side House Settlement.
“By beginning services during pregnancy, we are building a strong foundation for healthy births, early learning, and long-term family stability. Early Head Start allows us to support not only children, but parents and caregivers as partners in their child’s development.”
East Side House Settlement is committed to ensuring a seamless transition and continuity of services for families in the community with this expansion introducing a home-based service model that includes weekly home visits, group socialization activities, prenatal and postpartum supports, developmental screenings, mental health services, and individualized Family Partnership Agreements.
The program will initially serve expectant families and children from birth to age three, prioritizing families experiencing poverty, housing instability, homelessness, or other risk factors. Services will be delivered both in families’ homes and at East Side House sites, ensuring accessibility, cultural responsiveness, and strong connections to trusted community partners.
East Side House Settlement is committed to keeping families and community stakeholders informed. Families and partners will be notified in the coming weeks regarding enrollment opportunities, program timelines, and next steps. Please contact 646-665-5250 to learn more about the Expectant Families & Home Based Program.
