In our community it was announced this past week that our county Head Start Program would be forced to close on May 21 due to uncertainty of continued government funding. They had applied to continue their long-standing funding back in January and have yet to receive confirmation of what their future looks like in this valuable pre-school program.
Head Start programs support children’s growth from birth to age 5 through services centered around early learning and development, health, and family well-being. Head Start staff actively engage parents, recognizing family participation throughout the program as key to strong child outcomes.
Head Start services are available at no cost to children ages birth to 5 in eligible families, and Head Start preschool services work with children ages 3 to 5 and their families. Early Head Start services work with families that have children ages birth to 3, and many also serve expectant families. Many programs operate both Head Start preschool and Early Head Start services. Programs deliver child development services in center-based, home-based, or family childcare settings. Head Start programs operate in every state, many tribal nations, and several U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico. All Head Start programs continually work toward our mission for eligible children and families to receive high-quality services in safe and healthy settings that prepare children for school and life.
Head Start programs have been an essential part of the services to help thousands of students prepare to successfully start school. Their services include early learning and development support, health and wellness, family well-being, and family engagement. This is a vital set of services sponsored by the national Health and Human Services Department that address some of the special needs of children, families that are in poverty, and children with identified disabilities.
This uncertainty of funding will have significant impact to many families and their children who have become dependent on the programs for help and support. Creating readiness and transition to school are an essential part of their lives and can often have impact to the entire trajectory of whether they will be successful in school or not. There will be panic and significant consequences if this funding is not continued.
We have just heard that funding now will be safe until the end of the school year in June but still the Head Start Program does not know its future, cannot contract with staff, cannot guarantee families of their continued support and cannot promise the kids that they will be in their program in the near future. A staff is unable to tell its families that their kids will have vital services for their school readiness. This is a tragic reality for these families.
We know that canceling preventative services places these students in jeopardy as they encounter a number of life difficulties. Failures in school, drop-out, behavioral issues and even delinquency are all consequences of not being successful in school. The expense of these difficulties are economic realities that we will inherit if we do not help these students become ready for a positive school experience. It is short-sighted to cut Head Start when we know we will spend time, money and energy dealing with the aftermath of these students not succeeding in school. This uncertainty of funding is creating havoc in these programs and the kids and families they serve. We all should advocate for continued funding for Head Start Programs from our political leaders.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
