Building Strong Foundations with Alaska Native Families through Alaska Native Cultures and Education

Thank you for considering Cook Inlet Native Head Start (CINHS) for your child(ren)’s early education. CINHS offers preschool options for children ages 6 weeks to 3 years old (Early Head Start) and 3 years to 5 years old (Head Start). All programming is provided at no charge to families.

This application helps us determine your family’s eligibility and identify the most appropriate program options for your children. Completing this application is the first step in the enrollment process.

Please note:
  • Submitting this application does not guarantee enrollment.
  • All families are required to complete an in-person or phone interview and submit verifying documents as part of the eligibility process. These steps are required by federal Head Start regulations and apply to all applicants.

After your interview is completed and required documents are submitted and reviewed, your family will be placed on the program waitlist. Placement on the waitlist allows us to contact you as openings become available.

Before you begin:
  • Please complete all sections as accurately as possible.
  • If a question does not apply, select the closest option or add notes where possible.
  • If you need help completing this application or with any next steps, please contact the eligibility team at (907) 433-1654 (Ariel) or (907) 433-1635 (Mary), or by email at GetStarted@cinhs.net.
  • Due to limitations with the database, some families who have previously applied to CINHS — even if the application was submitted many years ago — may be unable to complete the online application. If you experience this issue, please contact us and we will help you explore other ways to apply.
  • Paper applications are available upon request. Please contact our office if you would prefer to apply using a paper form.

Parent/Guardian

Primary Parent or Guardian

This section collects information about the primary parent or legal guardian for the child applying. This should be the adult we should contact first regarding eligibility, interviews, and enrollment.

Important guidance:
  • Enter information for the primary parent or legal guardian who should receive most communication about this application.
  • Provide accurate contact information, including phone number and email address.
  • You will be asked whether you would like to opt in to receive text messages. Opting in is strongly recommended, as text messages are often the fastest way we can reach families for time-sensitive information such as emergency school closures or urgent updates.
  • Text messages are used for important notifications only and help ensure you receive critical information promptly.
  • The application will ask whether the parent is a teen parent. Please answer “yes” if the parent was a teenager at the time the child was born, regardless of the parent’s current age.
Why we ask:
This information allows our eligibility team to contact you quickly, schedule interviews, and share important updates related to your child’s application and program participation.
Please keep your contact information current:
If your phone number or email address changes after you submit this application, please notify the eligibility team as soon as possible so we can continue your application without delay.

Address

Address and Housing Information

This section asks for your current living address and includes a required question about housing stability.

Important guidance:
  • Enter your current living address to the best of your ability. Be sure to include any apartment number, unit number, space number, or suite number, if applicable. If you do not have a permanent address, provide the best information available.
  • You will be asked whether your family is experiencing homelessness. This question is required by the system and only allows a yes or no response.
  • The government uses a broad definition of homelessness.

    Please answer “yes” if your family has experienced any housing instability within the past year, including but not limited to: staying temporarily with others, living in overcrowded housing, frequent moves, living in a shelter, hotel, vehicle, or other unstable housing situation.

    Please answer “yes” even if “homeless” is not the word your family would use to describe your situation.

    If your family has had stable housing and none of the situations above apply, please answer “no.”
Interview clarification:
Additional details about your housing situation will be discussed during the required interview. All families are asked follow-up questions, regardless of how this question is answered.
Why we ask:
Housing information helps determine eligibility and waiting list priority and allows staff to better understand your family’s current circumstances. This information is reviewed carefully and respectfully.
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Additional Parent/Guardian

Secondary Parent / Guardian

This section asks for information about the other parent or legal guardian of the child(ren) applying, if that parent or guardian lives in the household full time. Providing this information helps us determine eligibility and understand household composition.

Important guidance:
  • Include the other parent or legal guardian only if they live in the household full time.
  • Provide accurate contact and relationship information if known.
  • The application will ask whether the parent is a teen parent. Please answer “yes” if the parent was a teenager at the time the child was born, regardless of the parent’s current age.
  • Do not include children in this section; there is a separate section for children.
  • Any other adults living in the household (grandparents, relatives, or other adults temporarily or long-term) should be added in the Other Household Adults section.
Why we ask:
This information helps staff understand household composition and ensures all eligibility factors are considered. Eligibility staff may follow up during the required interview for clarification.

If you are unsure whether someone should be included, it is best to include them. Staff will confirm details during the interview.

Other Adults

Are there other adults in the household?

Add Another Adult

Family Information

Family Information

This section collects general information about your household, including relationships to the child(ren) applying, public assistance participation, and household income.

Important guidance:
  • Answer all questions based on your household’s current situation.
  • The application will ask whether parents or guardians currently receive public assistance, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
  • You will also be asked to provide your household’s gross annual income. Please enter the total income earned by all household members over the previous 12 months. Estimates are acceptable, but they should reflect a realistic total amount rather than a rough guess.
  • Please answer all questions accurately. Eligibility staff will review and confirm these details during the required interview.
Why we ask:
This information helps determine eligibility and waitlist priority under federal Head Start regulations.

If you are unsure how to answer a question, select the closest option. Eligibility staff will help clarify details during the interview process.

Child (Applicant)

Child Information

The next section asks for information about the child applying for Head Start or Early Head Start. This includes basic demographics, date of birth, an open notes field, additional questions at the end of the section, and a separate health concerns field.

Important guidance:
  • Provide accurate information for this child. This helps us determine eligibility and assign priority on the waiting list.
  • This section is only for one child applicant. Please add additional child applicants in the "Additional Applicant" section.
  • There is an open notes field within this section. Use this field to share any general information you would like us to know about your child.
  • Immediately following the open notes field, there is a separate health concerns field. Please use this field to list known allergies, medical concerns, diagnoses, or other health-related information that may affect your child’s care.
  • After the health concerns field, there are additional questions such as whether the child’s family recently relocated from rural Alaska and the approximate date of relocation, if known.
  • The final question in this section asks for your Reason for Enrollment. Please share your primary reason(s) for enrolling your child in Head Start or Early Head Start. This question does not affect eligibility and helps us better understand your goals for your child and family.
  • Answer all questions to the best of your knowledge. Eligibility staff may follow up during the required interview for clarification.
Why we ask:
This information allows us to place the child appropriately in programs, ensure safety, and confirm eligibility. Health-related items may require additional documentation to ensure your child’s safety, which can slightly affect waitlist processing time. Your response to the Reason for Enrollment question helps us better understand family priorities and plan programming accordingly.

If you are unsure about any question, provide your best information. Eligibility staff will review and confirm details during the interview.

Location Preferences
- Your Address - Available Locations
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Additional Applicant

Do you want to apply now for another child in your family?

Add Another Applicant

Siblings

Are there other children in the family?

Add a Sibling

Next Steps After Submitting Your Application

Thank you for submitting your application to Cook Inlet Native Head Start (CINHS). Once you select "Save and Continue", your application will be submitted and recorded in our system for review by our eligibility team.

Confirmation:
  • You will receive an automated email from noreply@childplus.net confirming that your application was submitted.
    Note: ChildPlus is the database we use to process applications.
  • Additional communication regarding your application may come from:
    • noreply@childplus.net
    • GetStarted@cinhs.net
    • Directly from members of the CINHS eligibility team
  • Please safelist all emails from cinhs.net and childplus.net, as well as phone numbers starting with 907-433-16xx. You may also wish to check your spam or junk folder to ensure early communications are not missed.
  • Our eligibility team will reach out to schedule your interview appointment and provide guidance on required verification documents.
  • If you have not received a response within one week of submitting your application, you may call the office at 907-433-1654 or 907-433-1635.
Please keep your contact information current:
If your phone number or email address changes at any time after submitting this application, please notify the eligibility team immediately so we can continue processing your application without delay.

Providing accurate contact information ensures we can reach you quickly. Please monitor your email and voicemail for updates.

Required information is missing, see above.