Latest news with #CACS
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Head Start programs returning to normal operations
LANSING Mich. (WLNS) – People are looking for answers as Head Start programs throughout Mid-Michigan were closed on Wednesday due to funding concerns—and officials gave 6 News those answers. Parents with children at Head Start programs through Capital Area Community Services, or CACS, are confused and frustrated, stemming from an executive order by President Trump that froze federal funding. This led to an announcement on Tuesday by CACS, that these programs would close indefinitely. They were closed Wednesday, but after some clarifications, all of the schools will be open again on Thursday and return to normal operations. That executive order was Wednesday afternoon, but before that happened, CACS could not access its funding on Tuesday which caused concern. So, , and staff was informed that they were temporarily laid off. Some facilities were able to stay open on Wednesday because they have other funding sources. Reynaldo Medrano's 2 year old grandson Frankie attends a Head Start Program. 'There's no school, they don't know where to take these children,' Medrano said. On Wednesday morning, Medrano still wasn't sure what was going on. He thought he was going to have to take care of Frankie. 'I told my son, If I have to bring baby Frankie to work with me, I'll put a paintbrush in his hand and bring him to work,' Medrano said. It was a relief for Medrano to hear that Head Start programs will be back open Thursday. 'He loves coming here, it's a great school, these are great teachers,' Medrano said. CACS Associate Director, Dr. Nolana Nobels, said changes in executive leadership always come with a level of confusion. She said this level of confusion though is unprecedented. Nobels said CACS could not access its payment after the executive order came down. Since it seemed their funding was paused and the school day was ending, they started preparing and let parents and staff know they were closed until further notice and temporary layoffs were activated. 'It's a fiscal responsibility to make sure you have the money behind your actions,' Nobels said. Soon after the Federal Government announced that it was an outage that kept Head Start Programs from accessing their funding. It then clarified that Head Start Programs were not part of the freeze. Around the same time, Dr. Nobels said CACS was able to get into their funding account. 'However, the access did not include the confirmation of the ability to draw funds,' Nobels said. The doctor said it wasn't until around 9 A.M. Wednesday that officials felt comfortable to let staff and parents know things would go back to normal on Thursday and the temporary layoffs were lifted. Because that's when CACS finally got confirmation they could draw funds. 'We're feeling pretty good about things right now,' Nobels said. Nobels appreciates the community's patience. 'Our intention was to make sure we were being good stewards of federal dollars, good stewards of the responsibilities we share with our community, and our actions that we took are based on that,' Nobels said. CACS leaders say they are no longer under the impression their 'federal funding' is in jeopardy. All the confusion seems to have come from things happening so fast. The White House announced the freeze Monday night with little to no direction, leaving organizations frantically trying to figure things out. Dr. Nobels said 1,600 kids across 4 counties rely on this program. All buildings will be open again on Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Confusion over Michigan Head Start programs continues
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Around 9 Tuesday night the Capital Area Community Services — also known as CACS — published a social media statement about the confusion surrounding its Head Start programs across Mid-Michigan. Late Tuesday afternoon an left many worrying about what would and would not have been affected, and while a minutes before it was set to take effect, many people took to Facebook and other social media platforms to claim CACS emailed them saying, 'We have to close all of our Head Start sites and services until further notice.' Other people were writing they work for CACS Head Start and had been laid off in a similar email Tuesday afternoon. 6 News has not been able to confirm this took place. On Facebook Wednesday morning CACS wrote: From our Head Start Director, we want to let families know the following schools with Head Start Services will be open for Forest View, Gier Park, Pleasant View & will continue to communicate with staff and families as messaging comes to you! CACS Head Start It remains unclear Wednesday morning how many Head Start programs remained closed today and what will happen in the following days to the programs, students and employees. 6 News also obtained a copy of guidance sent out to lawmakers regarding the directive, which indicates that Head Start programs will not be affected. Q: Is this a freeze on benefits to Americans like SNAP or student loans? A: No, any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause. Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused. If agencies are concerned that these programs may implicate the President's Executive Orders, they should consult OMB to begin to unwind these objectionable policies without a pause in the payments. Office of Management and Budget — Jan. 28, 2025 The following is a statement from the Michigan Department of Education, also released before the order was blocked. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is aware of the M-25-13 memo from the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to federal agency heads on January 27, 2025. This memo puts a two-week pause on federal grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs, with the exception of assistance provided directly to is working with the Executive Office of the Governor and the Michigan Department of the Attorney General on the protection of federal funds for Michigan's students and school staff members. Attorney General Dana Nessel issued this you for all you do every day to serve Michigan's public school children and support their education Michael F. Rice, State Superintendent, Jan. 28, 202 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Executive order creates confusion for Mid-Michigan Head Start programs
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — An left many worrying about what would and would not have been affected, and while a minutes before it was set to take effect, confusion on what would have potentially been affected made its way through Mid-Michigan. The following is an email shared with 6 News, sent out by Capital Area Community Services (CACS) Tuesday afternoon—before the order was blocked. Due to the Executive Order signed by President Trump on January 27, 2025, we have to close all of our Head Start sites and services until further notice. CACS Head Start will inform families if anything you for your partnership and you, CACS Head Start, Jan. 28, 2025 However, 6 News also obtained a copy of guidance sent out to lawmakers regarding the directive, which indicates that Head Start programs will not be affected. Q: Is this a freeze on benefits to Americans like SNAP or student loans? A: No, any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause. Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused. If agencies are concerned that these programs may implicate the President's Executive Orders, they should consult OMB to begin to unwind these objectionable policies without a pause in the payments. Office of Management and Budget — Jan. 28, 2025 The following is a statement from the Michigan Department of Education, also released before the order was blocked. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is aware of the M-25-13 memo from the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to federal agency heads on January 27, 2025. This memo puts a two-week pause on federal grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs, with the exception of assistance provided directly to is working with the Executive Office of the Governor and the Michigan Department of the Attorney General on the protection of federal funds for Michigan's students and school staff members. Attorney General Dana Nessel issued this you for all you do every day to serve Michigan's public school children and support their education Michael F. Rice, State Superintendent, Jan. 28, 2024 6 News has reached out to CACS for comment but has not yet received a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
