NORWICH – The Chenango County Head Start and Early Head Start Program, administered through Opportunities for Chenango, is slated for $1.3 million in federal grants to continue its purpose of serving children and their families throughout the county.
An official announcement was made by U.S. Congressman Richard Hanna this week. The recent allocation is actually the second installment of a larger $2.6 million grant awarded to Head Start in 2014. Head Start received the first half of that funding at the beginning of the grant year, said Head Start Program Director Karen Randall.
Funds will be used for costs of Head Start that include staff salary and fringe benefits, training, and direct operational costs. Chenango County Head Start and Early Head Start currently serve 302 children and their families at six different facilities located throughout the county.
“The amount we received is what we had budgeted for the year,” Randall said. “We never know from year to year what funds will be available. President Obama is proposing increases for Head Start and Early Head Start for 2016, but at this point, we aren’t sure what next year will look like.”
Head Start is a federally funded program for preschool children ages 3 to 5 years old. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities designed to meet their individual needs. Families receive comprehensive services in the areas of health, nutrition, education and social services. Programming is offered through either a center base or home base design where parents are actively involved in all aspects of the program.
Early Head Start is a federally funded and locally operated program for pregnant women and children up to three years of age. Families are served by weekly home based visits and in a combination option with classroom experience. Activities are planned that encourage parents to observe and celebrate the developmental growth of their child. The program also provides two group experiences monthly for enrolled families.
“Expanded access to early learning guarantees a reduction in spending on entitlements, welfare and incarceration,” Congressman Hanna stated. “It also lowers obesity rates, helping to reduce healthcare costs. By focusing on early education, we can begin to break the back of intergenerational poverty, producing more taxpayers and a more competitive America through a better-educated, growing middle class.”
Hanna additionally noted that one in four children start their life in poverty. But programs like Chenango County Head Start are there to help.
“Opportunities for Chenango is committed to improving the health, academic readiness and quality of life of our youngest residents of Chenango County,” he added.
Early Head Start also believes that a child’s learning and development involves the whole family. Staff are ready to support families with resources and information on health, nutrition and social services, and child development. Parents also have access to information on a variety of topics.
For additional information on the Chenango County Head Start and Early Head Start program, contact Opportunities for Chenango at 334-7114 or visit ofcinc.org.