As the federal government shutdown continues, some Head Start preschools across the United States will have to shut down starting next week because they wont receive their funding grants.
Centers are scrambling to assess how long they can stay open, since nearly all their funding comes from federal taxpayers. Head Start provides education and child care for the nations neediest preschoolers. When a center is closed, families may have to miss work or school.
In our area, three agencies operate the Head Start preschools in most of north central Arkansas and southern Missouri. Head Starts are for ages 3-5 and Early Head Starts are for children under the age of three.
OZARK OPPORTUNITIES INCORPORATED
Ozark Opportunities Incorporated (OOI) is a community action agency that serves Baxter, Boone, Marion, Newton, Searcy and Van Buren counties. They operate 10 Head Start programs in their service area. CEO and Child Development Director Richard “Toby” Atkinson explains how the head start programs are funded.
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If the shutdown continues, it could be detrimental to a lot of Americans, especially those with limited means. Atkinson says he has been in touch with politicians in Washington D.C. to let them know how important the work they do is.
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OOIs head start funding cycle begins March 1.
Two programs OOI offers that started Oct. 1 have already been affected.
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The Healthy Families America program is being covered by corporate funding for now according to Atkinson.
OOI has Head Start preschools in Mountain Home, Norfork, Harrison, St. Joe, Western Grove and Jasper and Early Head Starts Mountain Home, Yellville and Harrison.
NORTH ARKANSAS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, INC.
North Arkansas Development Council, Inc. is a community action agency headquartered in Batesville that serves Fulton, Izard, Stone, Sharp and Independence counties.
They operate five centers, including a Head Start in Salem.
Stacy Albert says their funding cycle runs through the end of February. But their application is due Dec. 1, so if the government shutdown continues, she is worried about how it could delay getting their funding in time for the new cycle starting March 1.
OZARK ACTION INCORPORATED
Ozark Action Incorporated (OAI) is a community action agency that serves six counties in south central Missouri including Ozark, Douglas and Howell counties.
The operate 14 total centers including Head Starts in Gainesville, Bakersfield, Ava, West Plains, Mountain View and Willow Springs.
Angie Kinder is the Director of Head Start Program for OAI. She says “Over 70% of our enrolled families receive SNAP benefits, which help them keep food on the table. According to a recent report compiled by MOCAN (Missouri Community Action Network), in our six-county service area there are over 18,000 SNAP participants, nearly 17% of the population. Of those, more than 7,000 are under age 18, representing 28% of local children, and nearly 2,400 are under age 5, or about 75% of that age group.”
Kinder says if SNAP benefits end in November, it will be a huge problem for their clients since its such a rural area. “In much of our service area, public transportation is unavailable, and access to food banks is extremely limited. The few food pantries that exist are already operating with small budgets and inconsistent donations, making it impossible to meet the increased demand that would follow a lapse in SNAP benefits. For families with young children, this means impossible choices, between paying bills or buying food, between gas to get to work or groceries for the week.”
She says the shutdown could also affect the food they serve at the Head Start schools. “We are also uncertain how the shutdown will impact the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which Head Start programs rely on to help provide daily meals to children. CACFP funding ensures that children receive nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, sometimes the healthiest and most consistent meals they eat each day. Any disruption in this program would increase costs for Head Start programs already trying to navigate with flat funding, further straining budgets that are stretched to maintain quality services without additional financial support.”
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