Talking Points: The Federal Shutdown and Head Start
The Ask To Staffers
Head Start provides essential care, early learning, nutrition, and stability to thousands of America’s families. Due to the ongoing shutdown, by November 1st, programs in more than 40 states will have missed receiving their operational funding. Many will have to close their doors.
Tell your Members of Congress that the shutdown is making life harder for thousands of families with young children. Protect Head Start. End the shutdown today.
Top Points To Make
Big Picture: Families with young children are feeling the pain of the federal shutdown. As it continues to drag on, the consequences will only get worse.
Head Start: If Congress doesn’t act now, tens of thousands of children could lose access to Head Start along with the care, early learning, nutrition, and stability it provides.
Details – States: Due to the shutdown, by November 1st, Head Start programs across 41 states plus Puerto Rico will miss receiving their operational funding. Without this funding, programs are at risk of closure.
Details – Children: These programs provide nearly 65,000 young children with valuable care, early learning, nutrition, health screenings, and other important services.
Impact – Families, Children, Economy: Head Start is essential for tens of thousands of families. It ensures children have a safe, reliable place to go while their parents go to work and support their families. Children rely on it to build the skills that set the foundation for lifelong success. And employers rely on it for a stable workforce.
Ask: Tell your Members of Congress that the shutdown is making life harder for thousands of families with young children. Protect Head Start. End the shutdown today.
Learn: For real-time updates, check out the FFYF State Of Play on the federal shutdown.
By The Numbers
- When the federal shutdown began on October 1st, Head Start programs located in 3 states did not receive their operational funding. These programs serve more than 6,000 young children.
- If the shutdown persists, on November 1st, Head Start programs located in 40+ states and Puerto Rico will not receive their operational funding. These programs serve nearly 60,000 children.
- Taken together, this missed funding will impact Head Start programs which work with an estimated 65,000 young children in 40+ states across the nation.
