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Zapata, TX—Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announces $7.4 million in federal fund to AVANCE Inc., a nonprofit that supports low-come children and families in Texas. These federal funds, awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will be used to operate Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Zapata and Starr counties as well as expand services currently provided in these two counties.

“Head Start plays an indispensable role for families across South Texas, creating better health outcomes, higher graduation rates and higher rates of academic and professional success in our community,” said Congressman Cuellar. “This federal funding will help deliver tools needed to create a strong start for our children and families in Zapata and Starr counties. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight for federal investment in our children’s success and consequently, our country’s future success. I want to thank CEO of AVANCE Dr. Teresa Granillo and the rest of her team for their dedication to improving our children’s opportunity to succeed in school and in life.”

“Creating equitable outcomes for under-resourced parents and children has always been central to AVANCE’s work,” said Dr. Teresa Granillo, AVANCE CEO. “We’ve been part of the Rio Grande Valley community for nearly 30 years, so this Head Start program will grow from strong roots. The AVANCE Head Start program will be a galvanizing force for children and families.”

As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Congressman Cuellar helped secure $11.6 billion for Head Start in the 2020 final spending bill, an increase of $1.5 billion from 2019. Head Start is a program of the Department of Health and Human Services that brings comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families.

These federal funds will allow AVANCE to serve 592 children in Starr and Zapata Counties, through full-day, center-based Head Start and Early Head Start services for children ages 0-5 years, as well as home-based services for up to 36 pregnant women. In addition to providing and supporting early childhood education and development, AVANCE will provide services to address the physical, mental, and emotional health of children and their families. With this grant AVANCE will serve a total of 764 children and families from Hidalgo, Starr, and Zapata counties with evidence-based, culturally responsive, high impact parent education and early childhood education programming.