Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), and
Filemon Vela (TX-34) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Head Start has awarded a continuation grant of
$27,236,014 to Hidalgo County Head Start. This grant will help implement
comprehensive child development programs that prepare young students, ages
three to four, from low-income families for pre-school.
The grant will allow Hidalgo County Head Start to continue serving
children and families in South Texas. Children participating in this program
are given access to educational, nutritional, health, social, and special
services. For 35 years, the program has sought to promote school readiness and
developmental achievement.
“Head
Start is a tremendously successful program, having served thousands of children
and families in my district,” said Congressman Cuellar. “For years, it
has contributed a great deal to the community by providing students with an
array of comprehensive services and opportunities to shape a path for success.
These funds are not only an investment in our children’s education, but an
investment in their future.”
“This is great news – we must always keep the door of opportunity
open for every child in the 15th District of Texas,” Congressman Gonzalez
said. “The Head Start program empowers students to expand their
horizons and continues to prepare children for success both in school and beyond.
In Congress, I will work to ensure that federal dollars are never limited when
it comes to the academic success of our children.”
“The Head Start program strengthens
families and our community by providing children with quality education early
in their development,” said Congressman Vela. “This funding is a
critical investment in the education of our future leaders and will help ensure
that South Texas children and their families have the tools they need to
succeed.”
Teresa Flores, Executive Director of the Hidalgo County Head Start
Program, expressed her enthusiasm about the federal funding for the program:
“The grant is a continuation application to fund the program for
our 3,690 served in 185 classrooms throughout the county for fiscal year 2019.
This is project is a five year grant beginning 7/01/2016 and ending on
6/30/2021,” Executive Director Flores said. “We are grateful
to Congressman Gonzalez for his support in the continued funding of our program
to provide comprehensive Head Start services to the neediest
families in our county. It will also continue to fund the 752 employees,
33% who are former parents, and who serve the program in the areas of
education, family services, health services, staff development, human
resources, mental health services, field operations, finance, special services,
transition, nutrition and transportation. Our program also developed
and sustains successful partnerships with ten school districts to prepare
children for kindergarten and beyond. The districts include: Pharr San
Juan Alamo, McAllen, Weslaco, Mission, La Joya, Edinburg, Monte Alto, Hidalgo,
Mercedes, and Edcouch. We will also continue to assist staff in securing
higher education degrees for early education and provide financial resources
and release time to fill in our classroom teaching vacancies.”