Riverbend Head Start & Family Services

Riverbend Head Start & Family Services Mission: To empower children and families to develop positive skills to meet life's challenges.

Since 1916, Riverbend Head Start & Family Services has been focused on improving the lives of mothers and children in our community. Now the agency serves the entire family through its Head Start and Early Head Start programs Services are provided at NO COST TO THE FAMILY. We serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers and pregnant moms living in Madison County, Illinois. We operate six centers with one

in Alton (618.463.5933), one in Bethalto (618.717.0625), one in Collinsville (618.345.9588), one in Edwardsville (618.692.9604) and two in Granite City (North 618.797.1547 or South 618.877.2102). Head Start: Early childhood education program for children ages three to five years old at one of our Head Start centers or in your home. Early Head Start: Home visitors visit pregnant women and families with children under three in their homes each week. To qualify, families must be income eligible, have a child with a diagnosed disability or be involved with the Department of Children and Family Services. To apply you need proof of income for last 12 months and proof of your child's date of birth. Riverbend Head Start & Family Services is a non-profit working to improve the lives of families through our early childhood development program and parenting education. Our mission is simple: to empower children and families to develop positive skills to meet life's challenges. We are committed to preparing your child for kindergarten and so much more. We want your family to be healthy and positioned to succeed in life. This is why we offer the following program services:

Heath
- Physical and dental exams with follow up treatment if necessary
- Nutritious meals and snacks
- Prenatal care
- Nutrition education

Education:
- Individual assessments
- Creative play
- Social skill development
- Learn & Play groups
- Field trips
- Age appropriate child activities
- Introduction to words & numbers

Social Services:
- Identify and link families to community resources
- Empower families to set and achieve goals
- Support families in problem solving

Parent Engagement:
- Support child's education at home
- Build confidence
- Develop leadership skills
- Parent meetings and workshops
- Parents as volunteers

Transportation is provided for most center-based activities, all home-based Learn & Play Groups and field trips.

09/05/2026
We are accepting applications for expectant parents and children from birth to age five! We offer Early Head Start home ...
09/04/2026

We are accepting applications for expectant parents and children from birth to age five! We offer Early Head Start home visiting and Head Start preschool options with some transportation!

We have 5 locations that service Madison County including Granite City Head Start, Bethalto Head Start, Essic Robinson Head Start in Alton, Edwardsville Head Start, and Collinsville Head Start.

For more information call 618-463-5946.

Thank you to our transportation staff for supporting the safety of our children and families. 🚍

Music helps our children practice freedom of expression, experience new words and sounds, build early math skills, and h...
09/03/2026

Music helps our children practice freedom of expression, experience new words and sounds, build early math skills, and have fun! What are ways you can help your child explore music at home?

Our Father/Father Figure Meet-Up started last week for our Essic Robinson location. We hope you can join us for our next...
09/02/2026

Our Father/Father Figure Meet-Up started last week for our Essic Robinson location. We hope you can join us for our next one in September!

One way we practice recognizing our names in preschool is by having the children sign in to the classroom everyday! This...
09/01/2026

One way we practice recognizing our names in preschool is by having the children sign in to the classroom everyday! This is a great way for them to recognize their name and begin forming letters.

By practicing a routine each day, children will know what is expected. Children will feel secure knowing what is going t...
09/01/2026

By practicing a routine each day, children will know what is expected. Children will feel secure knowing what is going to happen next. Our teachers help children practice routines by reviewing the events of the day by using verbal language, physical movements, and visuals. Our goal is to help children feel prepared and be ready to learn.

08/31/2026

Thank you to one of our board members, Nick Novacich, for supporting the mission of Riverbend Head Start and Family Services.

Join us at the Granite City Head Start Niedringhaus School for the official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting!
08/31/2026

Join us at the Granite City Head Start Niedringhaus School for the official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting!

Are you looking for a quality education program for your family? Check us out! We offer Early Head Start home visiting o...
08/30/2026

Are you looking for a quality education program for your family?
Check us out! We offer Early Head Start home visiting options for our expectant parents and children from birth to age three. This includes weekly home visits, Learn and Play groups, parent education, and more!

We also offer a Head Start preschool option for children ages three to five. Head Start preschool offers family support, nutritious meals, and developmentally appropriate activities for children.

Both Early Head Start and Head Start options are at no cost to the family.

For more information, give us a call at 618-463-5946.

08/29/2026

We’ve been having a great start to the school year!

Address

1848 E. Broadway
Alton, IL
62002

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+16184635946

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Riverbend Head Start & Family Services posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share