Free · Federally funded · Infants & toddlers
Early Head Start in Miami-Dade: Free Infant & Toddler Care
Early Head Start is a free, federally funded program that gives income-eligible families full-day care and early learning for children under age 3, plus health screenings, meals, and family support. Lincoln-Martí offers Early Head Start in English and Spanish at four campuses in Miami-Dade County.
- $0 tuition
- Bilingual classrooms
- Meals & screenings included
¿Prefiere leer en español? Early Head Start en español →
6 months – 3 years · English & Spanish
- $0
- tuition for eligible families
- 4
- Lincoln-Martí campuses with Early Head Start
- 0–3
- infants & toddlers (from 6 months at Lincoln-Martí)
- 6–7
- AM to PM hours at most campuses
Eligibility
Who qualifies for Early Head Start in Miami-Dade?
A child under age 3 qualifies for Early Head Start when the family’s income is at or below the federal poverty guideline — about $33,000 a year for a family of four, based on 2026 figures — or when the family receives public assistance such as TANF or SSI, the child is experiencing homelessness, or the child is in foster care. Families in any of those last three groups qualify regardless of income.
| People in household | Yearly income at or below (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 2 | about $22,000 |
| 3 | about $27,000 |
| 4 | about $33,000 |
| 5 | about $39,000 |
| 6 | about $44,000 |
| 7 or more | add about $5,700 per person |
Slightly over the limit? Apply anyway. Federal rules let programs enroll a limited number of families above the guideline, and at least 10% of Early Head Start enrollment is reserved for children with disabilities.
What’s included
What does Early Head Start include at Lincoln-Martí?
Early Head Start at Lincoln-Martí combines full-day infant and toddler care with the extra services the federal program requires: developmental, vision and hearing screenings soon after enrollment, nutritious meals prepared on site, and support for the whole family — all in English and Spanish, and all at no cost to eligible families.
Bilingual early learning
Play-based routines, songs, and books in English and Spanish that build language, movement, and social skills from the infant room on.
Health & development screenings
Developmental, vision, and hearing screenings shortly after your child starts, so any need is spotted early.
Meals prepared on site
Nutritious meals and snacks during the day, prepared fresh at the campus.
Family support
Parent meetings, progress updates, and help connecting with community resources your family needs.
Full-day hours
Most campuses are open 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
A path to preschool & VPK
At 3, children can move into our preschool classrooms, then free VPK at 4.
4 campuses
Which Lincoln-Martí campuses offer Early Head Start?
Lincoln-Martí offers Early Head Start at four Miami-Dade campuses: two in Little Havana (SW 1st Street and SW 16th Avenue), one on NW 21st Court in northwest Miami, and one in Palmetto Bay. Spaces are limited and change during the year, so call the campus to ask about current openings.
Little Havana · SW 1st Street
905 SW 1st St, Miami, FL 33130
Little Havana · SW 16th Avenue
450 SW 16th Ave, Miami, FL 33135
Northwest Miami · NW 21st Court
10203 NW 21st Ct, Miami, FL 33147
Palmetto Bay · SW 168th Street
9401 SW 168th St, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
Looking for a different neighborhood? See all campuses on our campus finder.
How to apply
How do I apply for Early Head Start in Miami?
Contact Lincoln-Martí to apply: call (305) 642-1000 or register online, choose one of the four Early Head Start campuses, and bring proof of income and your child’s documents to an enrollment appointment. Our staff check eligibility with you and explain the next step, including any waitlist.
- Check eligibilityCompare your household income with the table above, or tell us if you receive TANF or SSI. We confirm the exact limit.
- Contact usCall (305) 642-1000 or register online and pick a campus.
- Gather documentsBirth certificate, proof of income (tax return, W-2, or pay stubs), proof of address, and the Florida immunization form (DH 680).
- EnrollWe confirm eligibility, schedule a start date, or add you to the waitlist.
Compare
How is Early Head Start different from regular daycare?
Early Head Start is free and limited to income-eligible families with children under 3, and it adds health screenings and family services to daily care. Regular daycare is open to any family, covers ages 6 months to 5 at Lincoln-Martí, and is paid by tuition or reduced through School Readiness and free VPK.
| Early Head Start | Lincoln-Martí daycare | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free for eligible families | Tuition; School Readiness and free VPK can lower it |
| Who can enroll | Income at or below the poverty guideline, or TANF/SSI, homelessness, foster care | Any family |
| Ages | Under 3 (from 6 months at Lincoln-Martí) | 6 months to 5 years |
| Services | Care and learning, screenings, meals, family support | Care and learning, meals |
| Campuses | 4 campuses | 31 early-learning centers in Miami-Dade |
Not eligible for Early Head Start? See bilingual daycare in Miami and how families lower the cost.
Google reviews
What do parents say about Lincoln-Martí?
Parents at our Hialeah center on W 45th Place rate it 4.3 out of 5 across 25 Google reviews. The five-star reviews below most often mention caring, attentive teachers, a safe and family-like environment, and how quickly children settle in.
“I’m so happy with this daycare. It’s a very reliable place, and all the teachers are lovely. Even the cook is incredibly kind and caring with the children. My daughter, being her first time at daycare, settled in in just two weeks thanks to the love and patience they showed her. You can tell they truly care for and love the children.”
“I’ve had a great experience with this daycare. They take good care of my daughter, she’s learned a lot, the teachers are very attentive, they play with her and give her different hairstyles than the ones I do. They’re kind, especially the director, Odalis. I recommend it 100%.”
“I love the professionalism with which they work; my children are always happy there and have also learned a lot.”
“Highly recommended, it’s a family-friendly and safe environment for children, my daughter is happy with her teacher.”
“The staff at the daycare provided wonderful care to the children. They are very professional and loving.”
“Excellent team of workers, very professional and responsible with the care of the children.”
“I’m delighted with this daycare; my baby loves going there, and her teachers, Dalitza and Rosy, are so caring and attentive to the children, as is the director, Odalys. Thank you for your love and for everything you teach her. I love that they do lots of activities and always take good care of the children. I recommend it 100%!”
“Excellent school, my baby’s teachers are very well prepared (Dalitza and Rosy), they always keep my child clean and well cared for, and the director, Odalis, is always very kind.”
“My daughter has been studying at Lincoln-Marti since VPK. It has the best principal, and the teachers are the best. I leave my daughter there with peace of mind because I know she’s in good hands. […]”
“My son has been attending this pre-school since he was 11 months old, he is now 3 and a half. The staff members are very family oriented and the teachers are exceptional. I can truly say I am extremely content with how much my son has excelled till date. Patricia, the director, as well as all of the teachers are beyond amazing!”
Five-star reviews from the Lincoln-Martí Hialeah (14 W 45th Pl) Google profile. Spanish reviews are shown in Google’s English translation.
Parent questions
Early Head Start in Miami: frequently asked questions
Is Early Head Start free in Miami?
Yes. Early Head Start is federally funded, so eligible families pay no tuition. At Lincoln-Martí the program includes full-day care, meals, health and developmental screenings, and family support.
What ages does Early Head Start serve?
Early Head Start serves children under age 3. Lincoln-Martí enrolls infants from 6 months until their third birthday, when children can move into preschool and later free VPK.
Who qualifies for Early Head Start in Miami-Dade?
Families with income at or below the federal poverty guideline qualify, which is about $33,000 a year for a family of four, based on 2026 figures. Children in families receiving TANF or SSI, children experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care qualify regardless of income.
How do I apply for Early Head Start at Lincoln-Martí?
Call (305) 642-1000 or register online, choose one of the four Early Head Start campuses, and bring your child’s birth certificate, proof of income, proof of address, and the Florida immunization form (DH 680).
Is there a waitlist for Early Head Start?
Spaces are limited, so some campuses keep a waitlist. Eligible families are enrolled based on need, and openings come up during the year, so call the campus to ask about current availability.
What happens when my child turns 3?
At 3, children leave Early Head Start and can continue at Lincoln-Martí in a preschool classroom, paid by tuition or School Readiness, and then join free VPK at age 4.
Sources
- 45 CFR 1302.12, Head Start eligibility — ecfr.gov
- HHS, Annual Update of the Poverty Guidelines (Jan 15, 2026) — federalregister.gov
- 45 CFR 1302.14, enrollment of children with disabilities — ecfr.gov
- Office of Head Start, Early Head Start programs — headstart.gov
Free, bilingual care for your baby starts here
Call a Lincoln-Martí Early Head Start campus or register online — we’ll check eligibility with you.