U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,820,422 in federal funding for Head Start and Early Head Start programs at Wayne County Action Program, 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 the Finger Lakes region.
“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 Wayne County Action Program, Inc. will bring real results to young students in Wayne County 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,” saidSenator Gillibrand. “These programs are essential for many families in Wayne County, 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.”
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 to five, 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.