Head Start Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Head Start W.Va. Worry Ahead Of Probable Government Shutdown

Hundreds of families in West Virginia could lose the support of Head Start if the government shuts down.

Federally funded programs are bracing for a potential government shutdown if Congress cannot reach a budget solution this week.

One of those programs is West Virginia Head Start, a child-development program for children of income-eligible families to connect them with services that support health and success in school.

Approximately 722 children and families would lose access to resources if the shutdown lasts a long time, according to Lori Milam, executive director of West Virginia Head Start.

“If it’s a short shutdown, I think our programs are equipped to handle that and have plans in place for that, should it happen,” she said. “However, if it’s any amount of a long period, they would lose access very quickly. It would hurt our staff, which we’re struggling to hire and keep, as it is right now.”

In a warning, the White House estimated 10,000 children would lose access to Head Start programs across the country as the shutdown would prevent the Department of Health and Human Services from awarding grants.

“Oh, it’d be horrible,” Milam said. ”We are universal pre-K in West Virginia, so we collaborate in the school systems. We have staff in the school systems, which we know that the school systems are struggling as well to have staff. If we can’t provide the services, there’s probably no room in the school systems for them to provide their educational services, but they lose the comprehensive services that Head Start provides.”

Two W.Va. Head Start Programs Receive Federal Funds

Millions of federal dollars will help early childhood education and development in the Mountain State.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded close to $13 million for two Head Start programs in West Virginia.

Head Start supports early childhood education and emotional development from birth to age 5, as well as providing health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families.

Close to $8 million will go to the Southwestern Community Action Council which services Wayne, Lincoln, Cabell, and Mason Counties.

The remaining amount – more than $5 million dollars – will go to the Community Action of South Eastern West Virginia, which services Mercer, Summers, and Monroe counties.

W.Va. to Get Funding For Head Start Programs

West Virginia’s U.S. senators say $4.6 million will be awarded to two programs to continue Head Start programs providing nutrition, health and education services to young children and their families.

According to Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, funding includes $1.5 million to the Kanawha County Board of Education and $3.1 million to the AFL-CIO Appalachian Council.

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

$4.8M for State Health and Social Service Agencies

West Virginia’s U.S. senators say social service and health care agencies will share $4.8 million in federal funding to support Head Start programs in Raleigh County and Oceana and medical services in Roane County and other areas.

According to Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, funds are going to MountainHeart Community Services, Roane Co. Family Health Care, Raleigh County Community Action Association and West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services.

The $1.8 million going to the state agency is for maternal and child health services for families in West Virginia.

The federal Head Start program provides early childhood nutrition, education and health services.

Manchin, Capito Announce Head Start Funding

Select Head Start programs in the state are about to receive some financial help.

Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito announced more $1.8 million in funding today for head start programs in the state.

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources Administration for Children and Families. The Eastern Allegheny Council for Human Services Head Start in Hardy County will receive 1.7m, and the West Virginia Department of Health Human Resources will receive $125,000. Funding will allow the continuation of established health, nutrition, education and social services to families and children.

In a release today Manchin said we prioritize commitments based on our values, and said children matter the most. Capito said while we work to create economic opportunity in the state, we must continue to enhance the lives of West Virginia’s youth.

Clifford visits Monroe County

Monroe County, December 2015 Monroe County Early Head Start and Head Start held a Storybook Christmas and invited Clifford the Big Red Dog to host the event. Youngsters participated in activity stations based upon various storybooks. Students from James Monroe High School Child Development Classes ran the stations. At each station one of Clifford’s Big Ideas was integrated into the activity.

Clifford’s Big Ideas, (Share, Help Others, Be Kind, Be Responsible, Play Fair, Be a Good Friend, Believe in Yourself, Respect Others, Work Together and Be Truthful) were borne out of the curriculum developed for the award-winning animated television series – which can be seen on PBS KIDS.org The goal of BIG Ideas is to support children’s growing understanding that the actions they choose make a difference to themselves and others.

Welcoming Clifford to Monroe County students from the Monroe County Vocational Technical Center made him a new dog house. This served as a backdrop for pictures with Clifford. Again, students from the vocational tech center’s Photography Class took pictures of the children with Clifford and with Santa.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Education Outreach program is pleased to work with community organizations sponsoring literacy events in their community. For more information email education@wvpublic.org.

This storybook Christmas was a BIG community affair. Being Big is about being Big-Hearted. It’s about having a Big Spirit. Being Big is something we should all do more often.

It only takes a little to BE BIG.