Dozens of Head Start programs across the country, including at least six in California, have been lagging behind accessing government money for weekly wages and expenses since the Trump administration announced a federal funding freeze .
The center, which relies entirely on federal funds to provide childcare for low-income children, paniced last week when the executives and the Budget Office announced a drastic freeze on federal aid. Ta. The White House later revealed that Head Start was not affected by the freeze, and OMB cancelled the note after being temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
Nevertheless, according to the National Head Start Assn, recipients of Head Start grants operating at thin margins of razors report delays to approved grant funds. Most Head Start programs have not experienced any major disruption, but some have no choice but to close services, while others have other funds to keep the door open They are rushing to find a source, the association said.
As of Thursday, 10 days after the federal freeze was announced, the association said at least 52 programs in 22 states, DC and Puerto Rico are still experiencing funding delays. The program serves approximately 20,000 children between birth and age 5 and receives a message “pending” or “in progress” when they request funds to be withdrawn from the grant from the online payment system. I’m reporting that.
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“If we don’t have the ability to pay rent predictably, we can buy the food we need to nourish our children and meet our salary. Our entire surgery is at risk. National Head Yasmina Vinci, executive director of Start ASSN, said: “We are immediately hoping to President Donald Trump and the representative leaders of the Department of Health and Human Services on issues leading to unnecessary delays in funding. I encourage you to deal with it.”
As of Tuesday, Melanie Cotrill, executive director of Head Start, California, said at least six California-based Head Start programs had experienced delays in funding. Cumulatively, these programs employ 884 people and serve 3,856 children. At least one Los Angeles County program (with 250 staff and 1,400 children) was “on the brink of closure,” so even a small delay could be “severe problem.” She said.
The program, along with the other, received payments.
Head Start programs need to spend the funds within three days of receiving them, so they tend to collect their bills and then ask for money to pay once or twice a week. Usually, the money will land in your bank account in one day. However, since the federal freeze was announced, the program has been waiting for five to seven days of money.
“Our program has bills and they don’t have the money to pay them,” Kotrill said. Smaller programs in particular tend to lack financial cushioning and incur late fees and interest, so they are not allowed to pay using Head Start funds and are at financial risk. It’s there. The California Head Start program serves approximately 90,000 children and employs 25,000 workers.
Several programs in other states have been temporarily closed due to delays in funding. In the additional complications, the federal principal’s office is housed within the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Trump administration has banned communication with the public, Kotrill said. “We don’t get the usual guidance. We’re left in the wind trying to understand what’s going on.”
The Los Angeles County Department of Education is the area’s largest Head Start grantor, and has contracted with school districts and private nonprofits to serve 8,000 children and families. Recently, the $10 million payment request has been delayed by a week, said Lewis Bautista, executive director of the agency’s Head Start and Early Learning.
The county office had enough reserves to maintain the programme running, but this is not the case for most Head Start recipients.
“Even if it’s a few days or weeks, the moment they say ‘I don’t have the money’ they probably need to think about temporarily closing the door and attacking employees. ”
Jocelyn Tucker, assistant director of the Foundation for Early Childhood Education in Pasadena, which serves 500 children, has yet to experience funding delays, but her program still has “a widespread uncertainty.” He said he had a sense of it.
“Everyone is nervous, everyone wonders what will happen. Parents too. Head Start serves the lowest-income families. What else do you have?” Tucker said. “Parents need to put their kids down to go to work. Without a place for the kids to go, they can’t go to work or pay their bills. It’s just a snowman effect.”
This article is part of the Times Early Childhood Education Initiative and focuses on learning and development for California children from birth to age 5. For more information about Initiative and its charity providers, access Latimes.com/Earlyed.
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