Requires all services under this Act to be: (1) provided in the most culturally competent manner practicable; (2) free-of-charge for any child of a family whose income is below 200 percent of the poverty line (and, if a charge is imposed on other children it must be on a sliding scale based on ability to pay); (3) provided by or under the supervision of qualified professionals with expertise in early childhood development; and (4) intended to benefit eligible children.
Makes eligible under this Act children, aged zero to six, to whom two or more of these characteristics apply: (1) low birth weight; (2) cognitive deficit or developmental disability; (3) parental substance abuse; (4) custodial parent with less than secondary school diploma; (5) parental depression or other mental illness; (6) abuse, maltreatment, or neglect; (7) family income below 200 percent of the Federal poverty line; (8) early behavioral and peer relationship problems; (9) exposure to violence; (10) homelessness; or (11) removal from child care, Head Start, or preschool for behavioral reasons or at risk of being so removed.