Head Start Celebrates Passage of Major Disaster Relief Funding Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Head Start Association (NHSA) welcomed congressional passage of legislation providing $55 million to meet the recovery needs of Head Start programs with facilities impacted by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019. The Head Start funding is included in the 2019 Emergency Supplemental bill (H.R. 2157), which passed the House of Representatives this evening with overwhelming bipartisan support and is expected to be signed into law by the President without delay.
“Head Start programs ravaged by hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters are grateful to our champions in Congress for providing this emergency aid,” NHSA Executive Director Yasmina Vinci said. “This funding will help ensure that disaster-stricken Head Start programs can continue supporting at-risk children, families, and communities on their paths to success. NHSA is proud to serve as the voice of the Head Start community in Washington, both during and after storms.”
Programs are eligible for the disaster funding if they were impacted by Hurricanes Florence and Michael, Typhoon Mangkhut, Super Typhoon Yutu, or wildfires and earthquakes in 2018, or the tornadoes and floods 2019.
In Recent News
Head Start Awareness Month Kicks Off in October: Supporting America’s Children and Families
October is Head Start Awareness Month. This countrywide celebration highlights the enduring national commitment to breaking the generational cycle of poverty by providing access to critical early childhood education and support to families in need.
12 Head Start Programs Earn Program of Excellence Accreditation
NHSA recognizes 12 Head Start programs across the country for their excellence in providing high-quality early childhood education and family support services, as part of their 2024-29 Program of Excellence accreditation.
NHSA Welcomes Improvements in Newly Released Head Start Final Rule, Urges Funding Increases for Full Implementation
NHSA welcomed improvements outlined in the Head Start Final Rule, released today by HHS, and emphasizes that inadequate funding remains a significant barrier to implementing new provisions.