Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) announced that the Department of Health and Human Services will award the Ashtabula County Community Action Agency with $3,541,855 in grant funding for its Head Start and Early Head Start Program. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Dave helped secure a $200 million increase in funding for Head Start in Fiscal Year 2019, bringing the Program’s total funding to $10.1 billion.

“The Head Start programs run by the Ashtabula County Community Action Agency help some of the most vulnerable families in our community,” said Dave. “This funding will help the Agency prepare kids for success in school and in life, as Head Start graduates are more likely than their peers to finish high school, go to college, get a job, and stay healthy. I’m proud to support this important program and look forward to ensuring it continues to receive the necessary funding to help the children and families in our communities.”

“We are incredibly grateful to be receiving this funding,” said Ashtabula County Community Action Agency Executive Director Judith Barris. “It will help us serve more than 400 children and families here in Ashtabula who need extra support, allowing us not only to prepare them for kindergarten, but also to help them build a foundation for their all of their future success.”

Head Start is a free school readiness program available to young children from low-income families through agencies in their local community. Both Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the comprehensive development of children from birth to age 5, in centers, child care partner locations, and in their own homes. Importantly, Head Start involves the participation of the whole family in the development and education of the child in preparation for their transition to kindergarten.

To learn more about the Ashtabula County Community Action Agency’s Head Start program, click here.