Washington, DC– Congresswoman Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today announced a $4,912,491 federal grant for Head Start of Rockland, Inc.  This competitive grant, which was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will provide Head Start of Rockland with funding for its Head Start and Early Head Start programs. 

“All students deserve access to the best quality care and education to help them prepare for school.  Head Start and Early Head Start are absolutely critical in providing these early childhood education services,” said Congresswoman Lowey. “Throughout my time in Congress, I have pushed for greater investment in Head Start because strong early education can do wonders to close and prevent achievement gaps. The increased federal funding provided by this grant will help low-income families in Rockland County access primary health care and education services for their children.”

“The board of directors, policy council, parents, staff and children wish to thank Congresswoman Nita Lowey for all of her efforts and support for early childhood programs nationwide,” said Head Start of Rockland, Inc. Executive Director Ouida Foster Toutebon.  “Due to her leadership, Head Start of Rockland, Inc. has been restored the 5.27% cut due to the 2013 sequestration cuts and provided an additional 1.3% COLA for staff, totaling approximately $640,000.”

Head Start of Rockland, Inc. provides high quality preschool, special education, and early childhood education to about 1,000 low-income children in Rockland County. The agency has programs throughout the county as well as three direct-run schools in Haverstraw, Nyack, and Spring Valley.

The $4.9 million awarded to Head Start of Rockland erases the previous 5.27% cut due to the sequester, or across-the-board federal spending cuts in 2013, and provides an additional increase. As the Senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee and a member of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Conference Committee, Lowey was a strong advocate for increasing investments in Head Start nationwide by more than $1 billion in 2014.

“The sequester’s senseless cuts to vital initiatives that help educate our children, support the vulnerable in society and create jobs were counterproductive,” said Lowey. “With this restoration and increase in funding for Rockland’s Head Start Centers, we see the great results of our efforts to restore smart federal investments in our communities.”

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