Early Childhood Services:
A Fresh Start for the Pre-School Years

Early Childhood Center

University Settlement's Early Childhood Center is an established force in the child care field, combining Day Care and Head Start into a cohesive and dynamic whole. The Center serves 158 children in eight classrooms, through a rich program that includes individual and group learning activities, recreation and free play, music and creative arts, reading and storytelling, nutritious hot meals, and exciting field trips.

Children with special needs are fully integrated into our pre-school classes and offered the support they need to succeed. Small, peer psychotherapy playgroups are used to address simple behavioral problems. Children found to have learning disabilities or physical or psychological problems are provided with individualized speech therapy, occupational therapy and/or psychological counseling.

University Settlement's Early Childhood Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

• For information about Early Childhood Center please call
  (212) 453-4545.

Early Head Start / Early Intervention Program

Through our Early Head Start program, 75 children under the age of 3 and their families are provided with structured playgroups, parent/infant groups, emergency childcare, parenting workshops, health information, job development activities and full social service support — both at the Settlement and at home. Children with developmental delays and disabilities benefit from the Early Intervention — a program that matches them with practitioners who provide the specialized assistance they need to overcome their obstacles before entering school. Services include speech, occupational or physical therapy, special education, or focused casework, all free of charge.

• For Early Head Start please call (212) 453-4511.
• For Early Intervention please call (212) 453-4509.

Butterflies Program

Our Butterflies Program provides a range of mental health services (including supportive play, children's yoga, parent/child yoga, and parent groups and workshops) to children ages 0-5 and their families. It is designed to support children and their caregivers through life transitions or other difficulties (starting school, adjusting to a new sibling, coping with domestic or community violence, abuse, trauma, etc). Services are available in English, Chinese and Spanish.

• For the Butterflies Program please call (212) 453.4534.
• Click here to learn more.

Healthy Families

Launched in September 2007, Healthy Families provides at-risk expectant and new parents with comprehensive case management to ensure the healthy development of their children. Services include weekly home visits; guided referrals to address mental health, medical, economic, and educational needs; a 24-hour emergency hotline for crisis situations; and full access to the Settlement’s complete range of early childhood programs.

• For Healthy Families please call (212) 289.6594.

Family Day Care Network

Our Family Day Care Network is one of the largest home-based childcare networks in New York City. We provide ongoing training to 60 providers who open up their homes to more than 200 children from low-income families. Early Head Start's expert staff works closely with the providers to enhance their home-based programs, and provide a direct link to on-site Settlement services.

• For the Family Day Care Network please call (212) 453-4530.