SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $1.9 MILLION IN FEDERAL HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY ACTION ORG OF ERIE COUNTY

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 $1,908,486 for Head Start and Early Head Start programs at the Community Action Organization of Erie County. 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 Western New York. 

“Study after study shows that the better we prepare our young children, through programs like Head Start and Early Head Start, the better they perform in school later in life,” said Senator Schumer. “This federal funding for The Community Action Organization of Erie County will bring real results to young students in Western New York 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 childhood education remains a priority.”

“Families across New York directly benefit from the Head Start and Early Head Start Programs,” said Senator Gillibrand. “These programs are essential for many families in Western New York, and help to ensure that our children start out strong. These federal funds will reduce the cost of high-quality early childhood education and childcare services for some of the most vulnerable in our communities, and ensure that children have the resources they need to learn and grow.”

“The Community Action Organization of Erie County is the largest War on Poverty agency in Western New York. The communities that we serve are dependent on the funding we receive from the federal government, which enables us to provide everything from after-school programs to community education. Thanks to our elected officials like Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand, we’ve been able to count on federal support for many years," said L. Nathan Hare, President/CEO, Community Action Org. of Erie Co.

Head Start and Early Head Start provide comprehensive child development programs for low-income children from birth to age five, as well as support and services for their families. 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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