End the Shutdown Now!!
There are no winners in a government shutdown! But there can be losers, and to prevent the children and families served by Federal Child Care Funding and Head Start from falling into that category, we need your Senators and Representatives to end the shutdown now!
Because of the way Head Start grants are funded, a few Head Start programs are already operating without federal funding, instead relying on other non-Head Start funds, and possibly even deferred maintenance and delayed payments to vendors, to stay afloat and keep their doors open as long as possible. By November 1, the number of programs facing the same funding cliff will increase twenty-fold. If the shutdown persists, an estimated 135 Head Start programs across 41 states — which serve more than 65,000 children — will not receive the funding they need to operate. Programs are at risk of closure and thousands of families will face increased financial hardship and the stress of not having stable care for their children.
The continuity of care provided by child care and Head Start is essential to healthy child development, and also crucial for the thousands of parents who depend on Head Start and while they work.
With all this in mind, we implore you to get your Senators and your Representative to work with their Congressional colleagues and President Trump to immediately end the shutdown and eliminate the threat of Head Start closures.
Finally, this shutdown may be leading to a shift in checks and balances in Washington. Many are watching closely for signs of a return to regular order, with Congress able to legislate and determine program funding in the future.
Protect young children and their families! End the shutdown now!
