For families utilizing over a hundred Head Start programs across the nation, November might bring challenging decisions.
Normally, 134 Head Start centers serving 58,400 children would receive their annual federal funds, but the government shutdown threatens this. Head Start, crucial for low-income families, offers free preschool and child care, especially vital in rural areas with limited options.
The shutdown also affects the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, expected by families at the start of the month. Additionally, emergency funds for a program that provides milk, baby formula, and produce are nearly depleted.
Related: Understanding early childhood education is key. Our free early childhood education newsletter covers these issues.
Low-income families face multiple disruptions, says Christy Gleason from Save the Children. Families relying on Head Start might encounter simultaneous challenges in child care and food assistance. “Parents may skip meals so their kids can eat,” Gleason noted. While Save the Children operates Head Start programs in several states, those are unaffected by the Nov. 1 funding deadline. Head Start comprises 1,600 programs receiving staggered annual funding.
There’s still a chance to prevent the crisis, according to Gleason. Over two dozen states are suing the government to release emergency SNAP funds. President Donald Trump stated that the food aid issue would be resolved, but details were not provided. Federal lawmakers have proposed measures to sustain food aid. Some states plan to continue funding the WIC program. Head Start centers might seek local funds, but these are limited.
“The clock is ticking,” Gleason said. “Every hour increases family stress, but government action could still prevent children from suffering due to political decisions.”
New data quantifies child care gaps
In the U.S., nearly 15 million children under 5 have “all available parents” working, while there are about 11 million licensed child care slots.
This leaves around 4 million children whose families may need care, but regional disparities exist as child care providers are unevenly distributed.
The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska aims to address this issue. It has developed a map showing where child care demand is highest, down to congressional districts.
The map details the number of children with working parents versus available licensed child care slots. While it doesn’t indicate demand — not all families need care — it provides policymakers with a foundation for evaluating community needs.
“We understand the data’s limitations, but addressing the gap requires breaking it into manageable parts,” said Linda Smith, Buffett Institute’s policy director.
This report about the government shutdown was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit news organization focused on education inequality and innovation. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter.
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