Advocacy Goals
1. Increase funding for Head Start and Early Head Start so programs can maintain the number of children being served. Current research on Head Start shows that children enrolled in the program are less likely to be involved in crime, less likely to need special education services, are more likely to graduate from high school and college. Region X Head Start Association which represents Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington are pleased with the support from President Obama and the Congress for children and families through the increases in funding allocated to Head Start and Early Head Start in the economic recovery package that will be in effect through the end of 2010. This support of funding translates into thousands of additional children from birth to age 5 will receive early learning and intervention services and jobs will be created.
• The Region X Head Start association is advocating that the funding awarded through the economic recovery package for Head Start and Early Head Start programs will continue be maintain beyond the 2010 time-frame.
2. Reform the Child Care Development Block Grant. Region X Head Start Association supports reforms to the Child Care Development Block Grant to provide children the continuity of care children and their families need. The Region X Head Start Association advocate for the following reforms:
• Extend the authorization period for families from the current 6 month requirement to 12 months.
• Cap the family co-payments to 10 percent of income.
3. Provide Head Start and Early Head Start grantees the flexibility to meet the non-federal match. Head Start must currently come up with 20 percent local non-federal match. This has become increasingly more challenging as the economy downturn has decreased donations for the program from individual community members and businesses. The Office of Head Start has made it more difficult with the recent change by not allowing parent transportation to count as non-federal match. The Region X Head Start Association advocate for the following changes:
• Decrease the current match from 20 to 10 percent, so it is aligned with other federal grant programs.
• Allow parent transportation to and from the program as allowed in the past.
4. Support for the lead screening requirement. The lead screening requirement for Head Start children has caused a burden on grantees as they are unable to meet this requirement for several reasons: The medical community does not consistently support this testing requirement, resources for testing are not readily available, and testing may not always be funded. The Region X Head Start Association advocates for the following changes:
• Develop resources for lead screening requirement for program including insurance, medical reimbursement, and commitment from the medical community.
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