Media Kit

About Us

East Coast Migrant Head Start Project was established in 1974, through a grant to the Leadership of Christian Women, to provide services to migrant farmworkers and their children. Under the leadership of Sister Geraldine O’Brien, Head Start centers were opened along the east coast and mid-west of the United States to ensure continuity of services as families migrated to work in agriculture. Today, ECMHSP operates at 43 educational campuses and serves approximately 3,000 children annually.

Our CEO

Javier González Gonzáles, Ed.D, serves as the Chief Executive Officer. In his role, Dr. Gonzalez Gonzales is responsible for overseeing the organization's mission to provide high-quality early childhood education, health, and family support services to migrant and seasonal farmworker families. Dr. Gonzalez Gonzales brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to his work. Having experienced migration as a child himself, he possesses a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities that migrant families face. His extensive background as both a public school and higher education administrator adds a wealth of knowledge to our team, enriching our ability to make a positive impact. 

Furthermore, Dr. Gonzalez Gonzales served as the former President of the National High School Equivalency Program / College Assistance Migrant Program, further demonstrating his commitment to the education and advancement of underserved populations. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Georgia Southern University, a Master’s in Education from Columbus State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Valdosta State University. His research interests extend to the critical topics of immigrant population assimilation in rural communities and promoting equity within institutionalized systems. 

Dr. Gonzalez Gonzales' remarkable dedication and wealth of experience make him an invaluable asset to our organization. His leadership ensures that we continue to provide crucial support to migrant and seasonal farmworker families, fostering their growth and well-being across our diverse communities.

Our Services

We serve farmworker families in educational campuses around North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Virginia. In areas where ECMHSP lacks a local presence, we partner with delegate agencies, that are other non-profit organizations, which deliver services to the same high standards as we do. We also have a corporate office in North Carolina and an administrative office in Washington D.C.

Our Mission

East Coast Migrant Head Start Project is committed to preparing the children of migrant and seasonal farm-workers for success. We do this by providing holistic, high quality early childhood education services for children and families in a nurturing, culturally sensitive environment and by providing services and advocating for children and families in their other areas of need, something they could not get anywhere else.

East Coast Migrant Head Start Project Families; A Snapshot

79% of families are below the federal poverty index guidelines.
72% of children are seasonal, and 28% of children are migrants.
93% of families identify as Hispanic/Latino.
80% of families speak Spanish as their primary language.
12% of families speak English as their primary language.
7% of families speak Indigenous or Haitian Creole as their language.
Enrollment of Haitian Creole families is increasing; there are also more mixed-race families, Indigenous families, and African families.
55% of families are two-parent families, and 425 are single parents.
72% of heads of households have less than a high-school diploma.
45% of families are enrolled in the SNAP program
24% of staff are former Head Start parents.
95% of children are up to date on immunizations, or 77% are up to date on the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) recommended for their age.
51% of children aged 0-3
49% of children aged 3-5