Start Early

Start Early was founded in 1982 as the Ounce of Prevention Fund, a nonprofit public-private partnership. Since the beginning, we have delivered best-in-class doula, home visiting and Early Head Start and Head Start programs and advocated for thoughtful policies and adequate funding at the local, state, and federal levels. From our roots directly serving families and children on Chicago's South Side and rural Illinois, we have expanded nationwide impacting early childhood programs and policies with partnerships in 25 states.Our mission is to advance quality early learning for families with children, before birth through their earliest years, to help close the opportunity gap.