SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $12 MILLION FOR WESTCHESTER AND ROCKLAND HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS
Funding Provides Early Education for Children In Westchester and Rockland
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced more than $12 million in federal funding for early childhood education programs in Rockland and Westchester counties. The funding will be used to help underserved children from low-income families. Community organizations from across the state applied for the funding, and the award to three programs in the Hudson Valley will support Early Head Start and Head Start programs that provide critical education and development services.
“Children are most impacted by their earliest lessons and carry those teachings through their academic career. We need to invest in early child care programs like Head Start so that we are preparing our children for their future,” said Senator Schumer. “This Head Start grant will bring real results to our young students in Westchester and Rockland Counties by providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. I am proud to support this essential funding and will continue to fight to see that early child education remains a priority.”
“Early education programs provide the strongest foundation for our children’s success, which is why these new grants are so important for Hudson Valley families,” said Senator Gillibrand. “With this new funding, our community Early Head Start and Head Start programs will have the resources they need to serve our students and prepare them for bright futures in the classroom and beyond.”
“This essential funding for early childhood education is a credit to our federal representatives,” said Alden Wolfe, Chairman of the Rockland County Legislature. “This grant will be welcome news for Rockland families who rely on Head Start for outstanding, high-quality affordable childcare. Every time I visit a Head Start center in Rockland it's a delight to see such happy, engaged children.”
As a part of the grant process, the Department of Health and Human Services accepted applications from early education providers across the state. Three community based programs in the Hudson Valley were selected to receive more than $12 million, including:
- $9,509,707 for Head Start of Rockland
- $1,115,171 for Family Services of Westchester
- $1,503,135 for the Salvation Army in West Nyack
Early Head Start and Head Start provide comprehensive child development programs for children from birth to age five, pregnant women and families. Community organizations are awarded grants to provide Head Start services in their community through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Head Start programs primarily serve children ages three and four while Early Head Start serves pregnant women, infants and toddlers. The comprehensive services these programs offer include early education, health screenings, social and emotional health, nutrition, social services, and services for children with disabilities.
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