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Shutdown May Block Local Head Start Grant

Gwendolyn Glenn
/
WYPR

Although Head Start programs, designed to serve mainly disadvantaged, three- and four-year-olds, have been closed in six states because of the federal government shutdown, programs in Maryland appear to be safe for now.

Funding for Baltimore County and city Head Start programs was renewed in April and July, respectively, and therefore not affected. But that’s not to say local officials are worry-free. Officials at the Y of Central Maryland, which operates 16 county and city Head Start sites, are concerned that a 5-year grant they received for being one of the country’s top 10 programs will be affected.

Even though the grant has been approved, “it did not kick in until October 1,” said Gail Reich, the Y’s County Head Start director. “So I’m feeling like that will be impacted until the government starts up again.”

The nearly $200,000 annual grant was hit by the mandatory 5 percent sequestration cut all federal programs were hit with in March. In its third year, the grant, now $187,000, is used by Head Start officials for professional training and technical needs.

“We have normal funds to pay for those things, but this allows for extra training and technical assistance for staff,” Reich said. “Part of the money is also used to train, for free, day care providers and centers in Maryland. Through our training they get some of the credits they are required to get annually to operate their centers.”

The Department of Health and Human Services notified Head Start providers last month, alerting them to the shutdown’s possible effect on funding this fiscal year, which kicked in Oct. 1. A spokeswoman for the department said those providers whose funds had been approved before the fiscal year ended would only be affected if they have not submitted required reporting forms and other paperwork or if a violation claim had been filed against them.

“In those instances, they won’t be able to receive a drawdown,” said HHS spokeswoman Marrianne McMullen. She said she has “no way of knowing” about the Y’s special grant funding.

Head Start providers receive federal funding on a staggered schedule throughout the year. Another round of funding is scheduled for Nov. 1. If there is no agreement reached on Capitol Hill, more programs and classrooms may be forced to shut down.

“The city and county Head Start programs are fortunate right now and don’t have to close their doors,” Reich said. “That’s just a horror I wouldn’t want to ever have to tell my families. They count on us so much.”

Baltimore County Head Start programs’ main funding will renew April 1; the city sites' on July 1.  Most predict or hope that some kind of budget deal will be in place in Washington and the shutdown will be long over by those dates.