OLYMPIA, Wash – Nearly 4,000 Washington kids are at risk of losing access to Head Start programs if the government shutdown extends into next month.
The Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP says Washington is one of the five states with the most kids at risk of losing access to programs beginning November 1.
One program in Vancouver has already decided to shut down after that day, impacting 175 children.
“It does not have to be this way,” said Joel Ryan, Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Head Start. “Congressional leaders need to open the government so that Head Start children get what they need and reverse the terrible and cruel cuts to Medicaid impacting these same low-income families. Parents should not be asked whether they need childcare so they can go to work, or health care for their families. They need and deserve both!”
The programs that are impacted are ones that have grants expiring in November.
In Eastern Washington, that includes Family Services of Grant County, which serves 137 children.
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