December 17, 2013

Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce Funding for Raleigh County Head Start Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with Rep. Nick Rahall, (all D-W.Va.), Tuesday announced Head Start funding for Raleigh County Community Action Association.

“In West Virginia, we prioritize based on our values, and we value taking care of our children,” said Manchin. “All West Virginia kids deserve a chance at success, and these essential programs provide our youth with the best opportunities and resources for a healthy start and to compete academically and to create a brighter future for themselves.”

 “With these investments in neighborhood programs and the caring educators and parents who run them in Raleigh County, we can help to ensure that every child, regardless of economic circumstances, can have the opportunity to succeed in school and life.  I strongly believe that Federal investments in early education and childhood development programs, as well as health and nutrition services for young children, pay huge dividends further down the road and help to set kids on the right track early.  I am fighting hard for our State’s young children and their families who depend on these programs and the Federal investments that keep them going,” said Rahall.

“Investments in the Head Start program give children the early support and care they need so that they can enter the classroom healthy and prepared to succeed,” said Rockefeller. “I’ve long supported this program and the services it provides to children and families, and I’m committed to making sure Head Start is available to those who need it most.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $1,121,678 to Raleigh County Community Action Association in Beckley to continue its Head Start program, which serves pre-school aged children at eight sites throughout Raleigh County.
 
Head Start is a national development program for low-income children that prepare them for school from a young age. The HHS program provides comprehensive education activities in classrooms, as well as other services such as social, nutritional, health and mental health, and transportation for children and their families.

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