SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $1.2 MILLION HEAD START GRANT FOR SCHENECTADY COUNTY

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a $1,246,700 federal grant for Schenectady Community Action Program (SCAP), a community based agency. Funding for SCAP will support a new Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership program and expand SCAP’s ability to provide education and development services for low-income children.

“Study after study shows that the better we prepare our young children via Head Start, the better they perform in school later in life,” said Senator Schumer. “This Head Start grant for the Schenectady Community Action Program will bring real results to our young students in Schenectady by providing them with the 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.”

“Head Start programs help our children start out strong and provide support at their most critical learning stages,” Senator Gillibrand said. “This investment in the Schenectady Community Action Program will help deliver valuable education programs for our children and reduces the cost of quality childcare for those who need it most. This is an important investment in our children, in the families who support them, and in our area’s economic future."

“SCAP is thrilled to begin our work with the YWCA of Schenectady, Albany Community Action Partnership, Family Child Care Partners and Parents to stabilize and optimize early care and learning for infants and toddlers,” said Debbie Schimpf, Executive Director, SCAP. “Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have long supported our work and we are very pleased with this announcement”.

Head Start and Early Head Start provide comprehensive child development programs for low-income children from birth to age five and their 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. Early Head Start – Child Care Partnerships grants encourage collaboration between new and existing Early Head Start organizations and child care providers to expand access to high-quality care for infants and toddlers.

Schenectady Community Action Program is a non-profit organization that assists low-income individual and families of all ages, and members of the community that are facing emergency crises with meeting their basic needs. They provide various programs which include: Head Start, community navigation and emergency services, case management support services, housing services and eviction prevention. SCAP also provides employment services that include skills development and support services assistance to become gainfully employed. Skills such as resume writing, computer technical skills, and a job search supports are included. The Schenectady Community Action Programs goal is to address and eliminate the cyclical nature of poverty and improve access to education, jobs and housing.

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