Today, Rep. Henry Cuellar announced that the Webb County Head Start Program has been awarded a $7.8 million grant.  The money will be used to enhance services provided to Webb County children and their families.

Nationwide, since 1965, Head Start has served more than 23 million children from low-income families in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Outer Pacifics.  The program provides education, health, nutrition and social services to children.

Here locally, Webb County’s Head Start program services over 11-hundred children between the ages of 3 and 5 years old.  The money awarded today will pay for staff and teachers’ salaries, healthcare services, such as speech therapy and oral hygiene services for kids, as well as nutritional services.  Money will also go towards parental involvement activities, and to help purchase supplies for staff development.

“It’s important that we take care of our children,” said Congressman Cuellar. “With services provided by Head Start, including education, healthcare, and nutrition, our children will be better prepared and healthier as they enter Kindergarten.”

Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Webb County’s Head Start promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through education, health, nutrition, and social service programs.  The program especially focuses on helping preschoolers develop early reading and math skills needed to be successful in school.

At least 90 percent of children enrolled in Head Start must come from families whose income is below the poverty guidelines, or families receiving public assistance.

For more information on grants, please contact the Office of Henry Cuellar at (202) 225-1640.