U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,540,289.00 in federal funding for the Parsons Child and Family Center in Albany, N.Y. The federal funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Early Head Start Program, and will be used to support and grow education and development services for low-income families in the community.
“Study after study shows that the better we prepare our young children through programs like Early Head Start, the better they perform in school later in life,” said Senator Schumer. “This grant for the Parsons Child and Family Center in Albany will bring real results to our young students in the Capital Region 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.”
“Early Head Start programs help our children start out strong and provide support at their most critical learning stages,” said Senator Gillibrand. “With this funding the Parsons Child and Family Center will help deliver invaluable education programs for children in the Capital Region and reduce the cost of quality early education for those who need it most. This is an important investment in our children, in local families, and in our area’s economic future.”
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 and Early 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.