SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $3.9 MILLION IN FEDERAL HEAD START FUNDS FOR CATTARAUGUS & WYOMING PROJECT HEAD START PROGRAMS

Funding Will Be Used To Support Early Education For Low-Income Children In Western New York

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $3,937,715 for Cattaraugus & Wyoming Project Head Start, Inc. The federal funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and will be used to support child care services for low-income families in Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties.

“Study after study shows that the better we prepare our young children, through programs like Head Start, the better they perform in school later in life,” said Senator Schumer. “This federal funding for Cattaraugus and Wyoming counties’ Head Start Program will bring real results to Western New York’s students, by providing them with the resources they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. I am proud to support this essential funding and I will continue to fight to see that early child education remains a priority.”

“All children deserve to get a strong start in life, and Head Start programs are indispensable for low-income families who want to make sure that their children have access to high-quality early childhood education,” said Senator Gillibrand. “With this funding, Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties Project Head Start will be able to support a robust program that helps children succeed in school, and I will always work in the Senate to make sure our families have the resources they need to thrive.”  

“These dollars support the provision of Early Head Start home based services to 50 low income children birth to age 3 and their families in our two county area as well as Head Start center based programming for 282 low income children ages 3-5.  Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties Project Head Start maintains seven centers all of which are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. With a focus on school readiness, Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties Project Head Start must also generate a total of $984,429 as Non-Federal Share through donated goods and services,” said Ira Katzensten, Executive Director of Cattaraugus & Wyoming Project Head Start.

Head Start provides comprehensive child development programs for low-income children, as well as supports and services for their families. Head Start programs primarily serve children ages three and four. 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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