Partnership announces $3.3M Early Head Start Program
First-ever grant in Durham to serve 120 infants, toddlers
Durham’s Partnership for Children held a press conference on Jan. 5 to announce the federal government selected Durham for a new Early Head Start Program to support families of 120 infants and toddlers.
Board Chair Angie Welsh, US Congressman David Price, Khari Garvin, Director of the State Head Start Collaboration Office, and the Durham Chamber’s President and CEO, Casey Steinbacher addressed the audience representing local media, Durham County, the City of Durham, and collaborating organizations.
Durham County has 15,600 children birth to 3 years of age and more than 3,500 (22.9 percent) of these children are living in poverty. Although child well-being indicators for Durham County are extremely troubling and there is a serious need for high-quality infant-toddler services, there has never been an Early Head Start Program in the county.
After the Partnership led a year-long Infant Toddler strategic planning process, staff and Board were excited to learn the federal government would dedicate new dollars, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), to Head Start and Early Head Start. Out of the $17 million additional funds dedicated to expand Early Head Start in North Carolina for the next two years, Durham was awarded $3.3 million ($1.6 million for the first year). The Partnership will utilize both center-based and home-based service options that allow the flexibility to meet the unique needs of very young children and their families in Durham.
"Numerous studies indicate that every dollar spent on Head Start saves taxpayers $4 to $7 dollars in future education, criminal justice, and welfare expenses. The stimulus dollars are helping our short-term recovery needs and wise long-term investments like early care and education,” said Congressman Price during the press conference.
The Partnership will collaborate with high-quality service providers in order to maximize expertise and enhance outcomes for young children and their families. The Partnership will combine its thorough knowledge of the Durham community with Chapel Hill Training Outreach Project’s extensive experience in administering Early Head Start services and the Center for Child and Family Health’s Healthy Families Durham will provide expertise in intensive home visiting services.
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CAPTIONS: 1. Partnership Board Chair Angie Welsh talks with a news reporter.
2. Khari Garvin, Director of the Head Start State Collaboration Office,
talks with a reporter after the conference.
3. Executive Director Marsha Basloe greets Commissioner Chairman Michael Page, Steve Toler of Steve Toler, LLC and Partnership Board Members Barbara VanDewoestine and Joe Haenn.
4. City Manager Tom Bonfield talks with US Congressman David Price before the
Early Head Start Press Conference.
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