Head Start Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Raleigh County Early Childhood Program Gets $1.3 Million In Federal Funds

The United States Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday it would provide more than $1.3 million to Raleigh County’s Head Start early childhood education program.

Families in Raleigh County may soon have more access to early childhood education resources.

That’s because the United States Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday it would provide more than $1.3 million to the southern county’s Head Start program.

Head Start is a federally funded program that provides education, health and nutrition resources to youth, as well as parental resources to their caretakers.

Head Start programs operate across the United States with federal funding but are typically managed on the county or local level. Children can participate in the program for free until age 5.

Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., said in a Tuesday press release that the new funding would help ensure all children in the Mountain State, “no matter their background,” have access to a “quality education.”

The new funds mark a continued effort on the federal level to support early childhood education programs in West Virginia. Last month, another Head Start program in Mercer County was granted $4.7 million in federal dollars.

Mercer County Early Childhood Program Receives $4.7 Million In Federal Funds

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday it will grant $4.737 million to Community Action of South Eastern West Virginia for its Head Start program in Mercer County.

Parents of young children in Mercer County may soon have access to additional resources thanks to a new round of federal funding.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday it will grant $4.7 million to Community Action of South Eastern West Virginia for its Head Start program in Mercer County.

Head Start is a federally funded program that provides early childhood education, nutrition and health resources across the United States. Its services are administered by state and local agencies.

The program is free for youth up to age 5, as well as their families. Head Start also offers services to support parents of young children.

In a press release Wednesday, Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., said the funding marked an important investment in the children of West Virginia.

“No matter their background, every child in the Mountain State deserves access to a quality education,” he said.

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.