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WASHINGTON - Hartford and Bridgeport will receive $5.7 million in federal funds to boost education and child development for low-income children, Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman announced today. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded grants to the Manchester Board of Education, Easter Seals Connecticut, and Thames Valley Council for Community Action to assist with Head Start programs in Manchester, Enfield, Meriden Berlin, Wallingford, Jewett City and Southington.
“Head Start works, ultimately making our children healthier and happier and their futures brighter,” Dodd said. “These Head Start initiatives provide Connecticut children the very high-quality care they deserve and improve their chances for academic success.”
"These new Head Start funds are a smart investment in our children's future, and will go a long way to giving our kids the boost they need to succeed in school," Lieberman said. "As a long-time supporter of strengthening our nation's educational system, I am delighted more of Connecticut's children will be able to take advantage of this wildly successful initiative aimed at helping those in need get ahead."
Head Start is a successful program that has helped more than 21 million children nationwide through comprehensive child development initiatives that serve young children, pregnant women, and their families. Head Start’s overall goal is to increase the school readiness of young children in low-income families. Head Start is locally administered by community-based non-profit organizations and school systems.
HHS has awarded the following Head Start grants:
• Manchester Board of Education $1,643,071
• Easter Seals Connecticut, Inc. $1,048,776
• Thames Valley Council for Community Action $3,067,889
A longtime advocates for Head Start, Dodd and Lieberman have continually fought for additional fund funding for the program and have championed legislation to expand Head Start to more needy four and five-year olds and create Early Head Start for babies 0-3. Dodd and Lieberman also fought to include more resources for Head Start in the budget proposal debated in the Senate last week.
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