Trump administration proposes to eliminate funding for Head Start program

DELMARVA – The Trump administration is asking Congress to eliminate funding for Head Start, a move that could have far reaching consequences for children and families the Eastern Shore, including the people who benefit from Shore Up!

“It would be a huge hit to our annual operating budget for sure,” said Julie Peters, Chief Communications Officer for Shore Up! “We operate in seven counties, we have facilities in those counties, employees, it would be a devastating hit to this agency and to the community that we serve.”

Head Start is a program designed to help low income families get their children ready for kindergarten.

It provides free childcare, meals and transportation for the children they serve.

Currently, Head Start serves 412 children among seven counties on the Eastern Shore.

“What most people don’t realize about Head Start is we don’t just serve the child, we serve the entire family, so we provide services to help the parents or the other adults in the household become more financially independent and better able to raise their children,” said Peters.

Corey Bowen, Director of Head Start and Early Head Start, said elimination of the program would put a strain on whole families, not just their children.

“To have no Head Start funds available would mean that families would have to go out and find child care that they may not be able to afford or be able to find spaces at all,” said Bowen.

Bowen said these child care services are important to the community.

“It costs them nothing to send their children for a full day, five days a week and again we provide meals and transportation, so it would be a big loss to those families who depend on us to be able to go to work everyday,” he said.

Leaders with Shore Up! urge the community to reach out to lawmakers about this.

“I would just encourage people to get in touch with their congressman and advise them this is not a good budget for us,” said Peters.

In addition to Head Start, President Trump’s proposed budget also eliminates funding for Community Services Block Grants, as well as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs.

The Community Services Block Grant is a federally funded block grant in the Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides funds to states, territories, and tribes to administer to support services that alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in under resourced communities. Over 9 million individuals are served by CSBG-funded programs annually.

Shore Up! receives funding for these ACF programs including Head Start.