SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $4.4 MILLION IN HEAD START FUNDS FOR WESTERN NEW YORK ORGANIZATIONS IN ERIE & CHAUTAUQUA COUNTIES

Federal Head Strat Program Funds Early Education Programs for Low-Income Children in Buffalo & Dunkirk

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a total of $4,384,012 in federal funding for two Early Head Start Programs in Western New York. Specifically, Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc., located in Buffalo, will receive $3,040,919 to support its Early Head Start program. In addition. Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc., located in Dunkirk, will receive $1,343,093 in funding for its Early Head Start and Child Care partnership program. Schumer and Gillibrand said this funding would allow these organizations in Erie and Chautauqua Counties to continue their efforts to improve education for low-income children at their earliest age, when major learning strides take place.

“Children are most impacted by their earliest lessons and carry them throughout their academic career. We need to invest in child care and early child care programs like Head Start so we can prepare our children for their future,” said Senator Schumer. “This Head Start grant will bring real results to young students across New York by providing them with the tools 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.”

“These federal funds will give more families access to vitally important early childhood education,” said Senator Gillibrand. “If we want our children to be as competitive as possible when they grow up, then we need to make sure they aren’t waiting until kindergarten to start school. The Head Start programs at Chautauqua Opportunities and the Community Action Organization of Erie County will help us accomplish this goal, and I will continue to urge my colleagues to support similar funding going forward.”  

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.

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