Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties Project Head Start will receive a $1,651,138 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The grant funding will help Cattaraugus-Wyoming Head Start continue their programming through June 2014, including their Early Head Start Program – a transitional program that provides health services and preparation for infants and toddlers expected to enter the Head Start program.
“Giving children a chance to be prepared for kindergarten and the years beyond is the key to a bright academic future,” said Senator Schumer. “This Head Start grant will bring real results to our young students in Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties by providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. What’s more, it will provide health services and early education for those younger kids preparing to enter Head Start. I am proud to support this essential funding and we will continue to fight to see that early childhood health and education remains a priority.”
“This is great news for Cattaraugus and Wyoming County children and families,” Senator Gillibrand said. “These federal dollars will help deliver quality child care, healthy food and other critical services to families who desperately need it in these tough economic times, and help more children get on a path to a bright future.”
Head Start is a federally-funded preschool program for the 3- and 4-year-old children of low-income families. The $1.6 million will help Cattaraugus-Wyoming continue their Head Start and Early Head Start Programs through June 30th, 2014. The Early Head Start program is a transitional program to prepare children and parents for the Head Start program or another appropriate program. It has 50 open slots for low-income infants, toddlers and pregnant women in both Cattaraugus and Wyoming County. The early head start program can provide birth planning, prenatal care and screening for pregnant women and dental care and immunizations for infants and toddlers.
Head Start provides services for 288 low-income preschool children and their families. There are 7 classroom sites in the two counties. Both programs consist of socialization activities, parent education, health and nutrition education and school readiness. Both programs also serve children with disabilities.