U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids announced the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a total of $4,113,744 to two Head Start programs in Kansas’ 3rd District.
These Head Start programs work daily to emphasize children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. Children who participate in Head Start programs receive benefits that appear immediately and last a lifetime, according to a spokesman.
HHS Head Start grant recipients include:
• Kansas City, Kansas, Public School’s (KCKPS) Successful Beginnings Head Start: $2,447,671
• The Family Conservancy (TFC) Head Start: $1,666,073
“It’s a proven fact – children in Head Start programs are healthier, have better social skills, and are more likely to graduate high school and achieve further education,” Rep. Davids said. “These two programs provide life-saving, family-centered services in our community that promote child development, enable parents to provide financially, and deliver significant returns on investment to our society long-term. I am grateful we have such strong early education programs in our community and will continue to support them.”
“We are grateful for the invaluable benefits that will come from this grant which will provide our children access to early education services,” Dr. Anna Stubblefield, KCKPS superintendent, said. “Regardless of a family’s socio-economic status, every child deserves the right to a quality education, and our school district is thankful for this financial support for our Head Start program.”
“The first five years of a child’s life represent a critical and unrivaled period of growth and development,” said Paula Neth, The Family Conservancy president and CEO. “During this time, they develop cognitive, physical and social-emotional skills that form the foundation for future learning. With this funding, we can continue our work to ensure those foundations are strong and stable for hundreds of Wyandotte County children.”
In order to curb child poverty and support early childhood development, Rep. Davids also voted for the American Rescue Plan which expanded and improved the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to deliver a new tax cut to middle- and working-class families with children, a spokesman stated.
Not only does the CTC directly benefit 77% of the children in the 3rd District, research finds that increasing family incomes has concrete positive outcomes for children, including higher test scores, higher graduation rates, improved health outcomes, lower rates of incarceration and higher future earnings, according to a spokesman. Last year, Rep. Davids announced a Head Start grant of over $3 million to the University of Kansas’ Project Eagle.
- Story from Rep. Davids’ office