Wait list for Head Start Grows!

As our economy slows down, Head Start's eligible children in communities are growing by the 1000s.  For example, more than 1,000 low-income children across York County remain on the waiting list to enroll in the county's Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Another example is a little 2-year-old boy came to the hospital hungry, not just for dinner, but every day of his young life. He is smaller than he should be and his organs, including his brain, are not developing fully. And he lives in Boston, one of America's most prosperous cities. Our leaders need to understand the effects of cutting Head Start funds. 

For some kids enrolled in Head Start, this program is the only stable, consistent place for meals.  When the economy weakens, we have more Head Start eligible children in need of services!  We should not be cutting funds, but at this time of need there should be an increase in funds to meet Head Start eligible children.  Head Start is the largest health referral program in the US.  Children enrolled in Head Start learn more than math, they eat healthy meals and learn about family style meal services.  Parents are helped with access to health services and taught prevention services such as oral health checks and well baby checkups.  Head Start is a child and family development program!  For those that focus only on the child educational aspect of Head Start, they forget that one of Head Start goals when formed in 1965 was to educate families and help break the cycle of generational poverty. 

In quoting Dr. Geoffrey Canada, "Bringing Change to Scale: The Next Big Reform Challenge", in "Waiting for Superman", ...We need to recognize the powerful impact that forces outside the schools have on student's achievement.  ...at the same time we address the barriers to academic success outside schools--from health problems to misguided parenting practices to lack of physical safety.

For Head Start this is a social service practice every day!  Children are enrolled in classes, but parents are assigned a social service worker immediatedly who works with each family on health issues, parenting practices, education services and employment.  Children are enrolled at birth and services such as parent education, job training, health clinics are provided for all children enrolled until they enter kindergarten.

You can help today by calling your congressman or senator and telling them not to cut funding for Head Start!

Deborah Ross, PhD
Director of TTAS Services