Coming next September is an Early Head Start program for babies and toddlers.  The program was made possible after Head Start received a $238,789 grant from the Federal Department of health and Human Services last month.

"One of the biggest needs in the community is for child care for infants and toddlers," said Charles L. LoPiano, assistant executive director of the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc., (GLCAC), the agency that administers Head Start locally.  "There are very few places that have facilities for that age group.   The reason is, it's very costly because it entails cribs, cots and almost a one-to-one ratio with children, or two-to-one ratio."

The new program will be offered to working parents who have already met federal Head Start guidelines.  There will be room for 40 children.

"The end result allows parents, primarily mothers, to get off welfare and get into the world of work and be assured their children have better than adequate child care, which is their number one problem," said Mr. LoPiano.

Also scheduled for September is the opening of a facility for the Lawrence Community Partnerships for Children.  The preschool will provide child care and support services for 130 local 3- and 4-yearolds and their families.

The center is under design, and will be located at 305 Essex St., in Lawrence.   Construction was made possible when the Lawrence Community Partnerships for Children was awarded a $711,162 grant by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education last month.  GLCAC is serving as the lead agency, or fiscal conduit of the program.

Some of the services that will be made available to children who attend the center include education. meals and health.  The center's projected hours of operation will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.