These programs serve parents, children, and youth, including child care assistance, early childhood education, and family support.
Douglas Head Start is a free early childhood education program for preschool-age children that includes meals, health and developmental screenings, and support for parents.
Who can use it: Children ages 3 to 5 from families with incomes below federal poverty guidelines, families receiving SNAP or TANF, children experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.
- Head Start preschool
- Daily meals
- Health, dental, and mental health support
- Family support
- Hours
Classroom schedules are not published; please call the site for details. To enroll, call (417) 864-3430 or toll-free (866) 282-3430.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
This center offers free Head Start preschool for children ages 3 to 5 and Early Head Start services for infants, toddlers, and pregnant women, including child development, health, nutrition, and family support.
Who can use it: Children from birth to age 5 and pregnant women in families with incomes below federal poverty guidelines or receiving SNAP or TANF, as well as children experiencing homelessness or in foster care.
- Head Start preschool
- Early Head Start
- Daily meals
- Health, dental, and mental health support
- Family support
- Hours
Classroom schedules are not published; please call the site for details. To enroll, call (417) 864-3430 or toll-free (866) 282-3430.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
Meadowbrook Head Start is a free early childhood education program for preschool-age children that includes meals, health and developmental screenings, and support for parents.
Who can use it: Children ages 3 to 5 from families with incomes below federal poverty guidelines, families receiving SNAP or TANF, children experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.
- Head Start preschool
- Daily meals
- Health, dental, and mental health support
- Family support
- Hours
Classroom schedules are not published; please call the site for details. To enroll, call (417) 864-3430 or toll-free (866) 282-3430.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
This center offers free Head Start preschool for children ages 3 to 5 and Early Head Start services for infants, toddlers, and pregnant women, including child development, health, nutrition, and family support.
Who can use it: Children from birth to age 5 and pregnant women in families with incomes below federal poverty guidelines or receiving SNAP or TANF, as well as children experiencing homelessness or in foster care.
- Head Start preschool
- Early Head Start
- Daily meals
- Health, dental, and mental health support
- Family support
- Hours
Classroom schedules are not published. The phone number listed is the OACAC Head Start enrollment line; toll-free (866) 282-3430.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
This center offers free Head Start preschool for children ages 3 to 5 and Early Head Start services for infants, toddlers, and pregnant women, including child development, health, nutrition, and family support.
Who can use it: Children from birth to age 5 and pregnant women in families with incomes below federal poverty guidelines or receiving SNAP or TANF, as well as children experiencing homelessness or in foster care.
- Head Start preschool
- Early Head Start
- Daily meals
- Health, dental, and mental health support
- Family support
- Hours
Classroom schedules are not published; please call the site for details. To enroll, call (417) 864-3430 or toll-free (866) 282-3430.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
Tampa Head Start is a free early childhood education program for preschool-age children that includes meals, health and developmental screenings, and support for parents.
Who can use it: Children ages 3 to 5 from families with incomes below federal poverty guidelines, families receiving SNAP or TANF, children experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.
- Head Start preschool
- Daily meals
- Health, dental, and mental health support
- Family support
- Hours
Classroom schedules are not published; please call the site for details. To enroll, call (417) 864-3430 or toll-free (866) 282-3430.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
This center offers free Head Start preschool for children ages 3 to 5 and Early Head Start services for infants, toddlers, and pregnant women, including child development, health, nutrition, and family support.
Who can use it: Children from birth to age 5 and pregnant women in families with incomes below federal poverty guidelines or receiving SNAP or TANF, as well as children experiencing homelessness or in foster care.
- Head Start preschool
- Early Head Start
- Daily meals
- Health, dental, and mental health support
- Family support
- Hours
Classroom schedules are not published; please call the site for details. To enroll, call (417) 864-3430 or toll-free (866) 282-3430.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
Crosslines Community Outreach, formerly the Council of Churches of the Ozarks, operates the Diaper Bank of the Ozarks, which provides 50 free diapers per child each month. It also offers birthday bags, sports equipment grants, free prom attire, and clothing and grants for children in foster care.
Who can use it: Diapers are available without income verification; birthday bags are for Greene County children age 12 or younger in income-eligible households, and foster care services are for children from Greene, Christian, and Taney counties.
- Free diapers
- Cloth diaper sample kits
- Period products
- Birthday bags
- Sports equipment grants
- Prom attire
- Clothing boutique for children in foster care
- Foster support grants
- Hours
| Monday–Friday | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
These are the Diaper Bank hours; it is closed on holidays. Families may pick up diapers once per month. Clothing boutique visits and foster support grant requests require an appointment.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
Springfield Public Schools' Parents as Teachers program offers free home visits from parent educators, a yearly developmental screening for each child, group connections, and parenting resources. Families can enroll through this hub.
Who can use it: Families living in the Springfield Public Schools district who are expecting a child or have a child from birth to kindergarten entry.
- Home visits
- Parenting education
- Developmental screenings
- Family group connections
- Resource referrals
- Hours
Hours are not published; please call before visiting. Families can also enroll online. A state ID is required for a visitor pass on a first visit to a school site.
Information confirmed on the office’s official website on October 29, 2026.
This Parents as Teachers hub handles developmental screenings, which check a young child's motor, language, thinking, and social-emotional skills. Families can request a screening by phone or online.
Who can use it: Families living in the Springfield Public Schools district with children from birth to kindergarten entry.
- Developmental screenings
- Home visits
- Parenting education
- Hours
Hours are not published; please call before visiting. A state ID is required for a visitor pass on a first visit to a school site.
Information confirmed on the office’s official website on October 29, 2026.
The Henderson Unit offers low-cost after-school programs with homework help, recreation, and dinner or a snack for students from Boyd, Bissett, Bowerman, Watkins, and Weaver elementary schools. Transportation is provided.
Who can use it: Students at the schools served by this unit; scholarships are available for qualifying families.
- After-school program
- Homework help
- Meals and snacks
- Sports and recreation
- Arts and character programs
- Transportation from school
- Hours
| Monday–Friday | 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
School-year hours; closed weekends. School-year membership costs a one-time $5 fee plus a $110 session fee, and scholarships are available.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
The Musgrave Unit offers low-cost after-school programs with homework help, recreation, and dinner or a snack for students from Jeffries, McGregor, Sunshine, Twain, Westport, and York elementary schools. Transportation is provided.
Who can use it: Students at the schools served by this unit; scholarships are available for qualifying families.
- After-school program
- Homework help
- Meals and snacks
- Sports and recreation
- Arts and character programs
- Transportation from school
- Hours
| Monday–Friday | 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
School-year hours; closed weekends. School-year membership costs a one-time $5 fee plus a $110 session fee, and scholarships are available.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
The Stalnaker Unit offers low-cost after-school programs for students from Bingham, Dayspring Christian, Hickory Hills, Pleasant View, Pittman, Rountree, Truman, Weller, and Wilder elementary schools. The clubs' administrative office is at the same address.
Who can use it: Students at the schools served by this unit; scholarships are available for qualifying families.
- After-school program
- Homework help
- Meals and snacks
- Sports and recreation
- Arts and character programs
- Transportation from school
- Hours
| Monday–Friday | 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
School-year club hours; closed weekends. The administrative office at this address is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (417) 862-9249. School-year membership costs a one-time $5 fee plus a $110 session fee, and scholarships are available.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
The Sertoma Unit is a school-based Boys & Girls Club inside Sherwood Elementary School that offers low-cost after-school programs, homework help, and recreation.
Who can use it: Students at Sherwood Elementary School; scholarships are available for qualifying families.
- After-school program
- Homework help
- Snacks
- Sports and recreation
- Arts and character programs
- Hours
| Monday–Friday | 2:20 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
School-year hours; closed weekends. School-year membership costs a one-time $5 fee plus a $110 session fee, and scholarships are available.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
The Fremont Unit is a school-based Boys & Girls Club inside Fremont Elementary School that offers before- and after-school programs, homework help, and recreation.
Who can use it: Students at Fremont Elementary School; program fees at this unit are waived for the current session.
- Before-school program
- After-school program
- Homework help
- Snacks
- Sports and recreation
- Hours
| Monday–Friday | 6:30 a.m. – 8:10 a.m., 3:10 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
School-year hours; closed weekends.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
The O'Reilly Unit is a school-based Boys & Girls Club inside Williams Elementary School that offers before- and after-school programs, homework help, and recreation.
Who can use it: Students at Williams Elementary School; program fees at this unit are waived for the current session.
- Before-school program
- After-school program
- Homework help
- Snacks
- Sports and recreation
- Hours
| Monday–Friday | 6:30 a.m. – 8:10 a.m., 3:10 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
School-year hours; closed weekends.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
The Risdal Family Teen Center is an after-school space for middle and high school students that offers homework help, workforce readiness, recreation, and meals. It serves students from Central, Hillcrest, Kickapoo, Parkview, Glendale, and several Springfield middle schools.
Who can use it: Middle and high school students at the schools served by the Teen Center; scholarships are available for qualifying families.
- After-school program for teens
- Homework help
- Workforce readiness
- Meals and snacks
- Sports and recreation
- Hours
| Monday–Friday | 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
School-year hours; closed weekends. School-year membership costs a one-time $5 fee plus a $110 session fee, and scholarships are available.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
FosterAdopt Connect — Springfield
FosterAdopt Connect
FosterAdopt Connect's Springfield office supports foster, adoptive, and kinship families and youth through advocacy, parent support and prevention services, a Kinship Navigator program, and family-finding programs. Its Sammy's Window food pantry and clothing closet serves foster families and delivers to neighboring communities.
Who can use it: Foster, adoptive, and kinship families and children and youth connected to foster care; call to ask which programs fit your situation.
- Kinship Navigator
- Parent support and prevention
- Advocacy
- Food pantry and clothing closet for foster families
- Youth services
- Family finding
- Hours
| Monday–Friday | 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Information confirmed on the organization’s official website on October 29, 2026.
The Children's Division office for Greene County, located in the Springfield State Office Building, handles child abuse and neglect investigations, foster care and family services.
- Child abuse and neglect investigations
- Foster care and adoption
- Family support services
- Hours
Office hours are not published. To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call the statewide hotline at 1-800-392-3738 at any time. In an emergency, call 911.
Upcoming holiday closures: Wednesday, November 11 (Veterans Day); Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day); Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
Information confirmed on the office’s official website on October 29, 2026.
The Glenstone WIC Office provides WIC nutrition program services for eligible women, infants and young children.
- WIC enrollment and appointments
- Loading WIC benefit cards
- Breastfeeding support
- Hours
| Monday and Tuesday | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
|---|
| Wednesday | 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
|---|
| Thursday | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
|---|
| Friday | 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
Walk-ins are welcome all day on Thursdays. All WIC offices are closed on the first Friday of each month. Arrive 30 minutes before closing to load your card. The phone number is the general WIC line.
Information confirmed on the office’s official website on October 29, 2026.
The Northwest WIC Office, located behind the Northside Dental Clinic on West Kearney Street, provides WIC nutrition program services for eligible women, infants and young children.
- WIC enrollment and appointments
- Loading WIC benefit cards
- Breastfeeding support
- Hours
| Monday | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
|---|
| Tuesday | 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
|---|
| Wednesday and Thursday | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
|---|
| Friday | 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
All WIC offices are closed on the first Friday of each month. Arrive 30 minutes before closing to load your card. The phone number is the general WIC line.
Information confirmed on the office’s official website on October 29, 2026.
The Health Department's Vital Records office issues birth and death certificates for any county in Missouri. Short-form birth certificates requested in person are printed while you wait.
- Birth certificates ($15 per copy)
- Death certificates ($14 first copy, $11 each additional copy of the same record)
- Mail-in certificate requests
- Hours
| Monday–Friday | 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
|---|
Vital records services follow the Health Department building's hours, and some services have limited hours, so please call ahead. Only short-form birth certificates are issued in person. Bring a government-issued photo ID (or two other documents from the City's list) and payment; cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards are accepted.
Information confirmed on the office’s official website on October 29, 2026.