Local Head Start leaders discuss alternative funding options amid federal freeze concerns
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Last week's proposed federal funding freeze has left a lasting impact on many organizations across the country, including one that oversees Head Start programs in Monroe County.
Action for a Better Community (ABC) is one of the only organizations of its kind to have full responsibility over the daily functions of both Head Start and Early Head Start in the Rochester region. They, along with many other Head Start programs across the nation, experienced a lockout from their federal funding access portal last Tuesday.
Once a federal judge in Washington, D.C. issued a temporary ban on the freeze, citing pending lawsuits that challenge its legality, some programs including ABC had their portal restored. Many, including some in New York State, did not.
Senator Chuck Schumer said with this ongoing issue, the concerns of how this may impact low-income families who depend on Head Start for childcare continue to grow.
'If Head Start closes, what will the parents do?' Schumer said. 'Who's going to watch the kids? The majority of our families are either single-parent families or families in which both parents are working.'
Schumer is now calling for answers from federal leaders.
'Our families need answers on what caused this disruption, why the portal shut down, why the money is still not flowing and how people can find out what is going on,' Schumer said.
With the funding concern looming, CEO and President of ABC Jerome H. Underwood is now working with his leadership team to discuss alternate funding options. He says this aids in being prepared during a time of uncertainty.
'For ABC to continue growing we are certainly obligated to seek a more diversified funding stream,' Underwood said. 'We provide much needed services in this community, and I'm glad we're able to do so. However, we want to be able to continue doing that until there is no more need for that service.'
As of right now, ABC has access to its federal funding portal, and Head Start operations in Monroe County are as usual.
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