Early Head Start Providers, Parents and Experts Urge Congress to Prioritize Babies’ Development During Appropriations

WASHINGTON – As Congress heads into the budget appropriations process, Early Head Start providers, parents and experts urged Congress to consider the important role Early Head Start plays in ensuring the development of America’s youngest learners. On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, ZERO TO THREE and the National Head Start Association co-hosted a briefing about the science behind Early Head Start’s approach; the role and importance of federal investment; the program’s role in offering communities and parents choices; and the program’s impact on early learning, development and more. The briefing featured the bipartisan Head Start to Congress Caucus and the bipartisan Pre-K and Child Care Caucus.

“Early Head Start was created 31 years ago, and now serves more than 183,000 children as well as their mothers,” said Tommy Sheridan, deputy director of the National Head Start Association. He characterized Early Head Start as “one of the smartest investments our country has made. It is so much more than just child care. It’s the launch pad for future leaders.”

“Parents are their children’s first and best teachers, and Early Head Start makes it possible to build upon that foundation for healthy development and lifelong success,” said Melissa Boteach, chief policy officer at ZERO TO THREE. “In the first three years of life, the brain is growing at lightning speed, making over a million new neural connections every second. Children who began in Early Head Start are now thriving as parents, educators, and even as members of Congress.”

“We know from research that Early Head Start benefits children and families,” said Dr. Rachel Chazan Cohen, associate professor of human development and family sciences at the University of Connecticut. “The first three years of life are high stakes. A large part of the variability we see in child development is due to the interactions children have had with the adults in their lives in those first three years. Early Head Start sets babies up for success later in life by providing high-quality services directly to children and by helping parents understand how they can support their child’s development. In addition, Early Head Start supports families’ basic needs, which means they have more time and energy to devote to building wonderful relationships with their babies.”

“As the executive director of a Head Start program and a former Head Start mom, I know firsthand the immense value of this program,” shared Latisha Howze, executive director of Higher Horizons Head Start and Early Head Start. “The whole family approach and comprehensive supports we are able to provide are what sets Early Head Start programs apart, but with a waitlist of 17 children for our Early Head Start program and a workforce crisis that makes it difficult to retain our talented staff, flat funding in appropriations would make it even more difficult to keep doing this important work.”

“If it wasn’t for Educare, my Early Head Start program, I never would have found my way,” shared parent Angel Elliot. “Educare focused on my baby, but understood that I needed to be healthy and supported for him to be able to thrive. They supported my children and taught me to be my children’s best advocate and educator. They helped me discover my passion and connected me with valuable resources. They supported my babies and made it possible for me to support myself.”

“Access to a good education is one of the most important tools we can give our children,” said Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX). “From health services to educational programs—Early Head Start provides critical assistance to many families across South and West Texas. Before being elected to Congress, I served on the San Antonio Head Start Policy Council to ensure our children have the resources they need to put their best foot forward in life. As the Co-Chair of the Head Start to Congress Caucus, I appreciated the opportunity to join this Early Head Start briefing on Capitol Hill to spread the word about this critical program.”

If you are interested in speaking with the providers, parents and experts who spoke at the briefing, please contact mbrill@westendstrategy.com or (845)-596-5328.