Tell Congress to Protect Head Start
[ [link removed] ]Take Action Now
[ [link removed] ]TAKE ACTION

Dear Friend,

Since his time in office, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert
F. Kennedy has repeatedly undermined the well-being of our nation’s
children, families and moms–the very population his department is tasked
with serving and supporting. [ [link removed] ]Now he is attacking the Head Start
program, proposing to eliminate most of the program's standards and roll
back regulatory rules in a move that will further exacerbate our nation’s
worsening child care crisis while spelling disaster for the hundreds and
thousands of children and families who rely on Head Start for care and so
much more.

[ [link removed] ]CLICK NOW! Urge Congress to call on Health and Human Services (HHS) to
protect Head Start!

Launched in 1965 as a comprehensive child development program, Head Start
has been the most important social and educational program for children,
families, and communities that the United States has ever undertaken.
Since its inception over 60 years ago, it has provided opportunity through
childcare to over 40 million children and their families. [1] This program
operates in all 50 states, opening doors for parents to go to work, kids
to thrive, and childcare workers to be able to stay in their profession.
Already too many parents across the country cannot afford child care, with
the annual price of center-based child care for an infant exceeding the
cost of housing as well as the cost of in‑state tuition at a public
four‑year university. [2] Head Start enables parents to work or go to
school, underscoring the importance not only for kids, but also for the
financial sustainability of families. [ [link removed] ]

Head Start programs also significantly support the development of early
childhood mental health (including social-emotional development),
language, and cognitive development. Children who have positive and
engaging interactions in these earliest years are more likely to enjoy
good physical and mental health over their lifetimes. They are also better
able to experience, regulate, and manage their emotions—key skills for
later school readiness. [ [link removed] ]

[3]Take action now to defend Head Start against RFK Jr.’s disastrous
proposed rollbacks and deregulation efforts!

The success and demonstrated positive impacts of Head Start and programs
has garnered strong bipartisan support for decades—support we rely on as
we urge you to call on Health and Human Services (HHS) to reject these
reckless proposed changes.

These changes will harmfully:

* Reduce access to quality early learning, health, family engagement and
leadership, and comprehensive support services to children and
families.
* Worsen child care ratios by increasing classroom numbers.
* Reduce qualification and credential standards for teachers.
* Remove guidelines around supporting children with disabilities, who
make up the required 10% Head Start enrollment for disabled
populations.
* Heavily impact rural communities, where Head Start is often the only
reliable early learning and child care program available to families.

[4]Families need and want Head Start. Tell Congress to call on HHS to stop
RFK’s Head Start attack!

Actions like these proposed changes put kids and families at risk of
losing their care and further throws a child care system that is already
broken and massively under-resourced into further turmoil. These harmful,
unneeded and unwarranted proposals will negatively impact every family
seeking and utilizing Head Start, as well as hurt businesses and the
economy that rely on parents to work, have access to education and/or work
training that enable them to support their families and have a brighter
future.

The bottom line is that finding child care where your kid is safe, loved,
and learning is already difficult, and Head Start has successfully
provided this critical environment for tens of millions of families.
Families need Head Start, so thank you for taking action to protect this
critical program!

- Nadia, Lauren, Nina, Hanna, Donna, Kristin, and the whole
[ [link removed] ]MomsRising.org & [ [link removed] ]MamásConPoder Team

P.S. Do you have your own Head Start story? [ [link removed] ]Click here to share it with
us to protect and uplift this crucial program!

P.S.S. Want to take further action on Head Start? [ [link removed] ]Write a super quick
and easy letter to the editor for your local newspaper calling on Congress
to protect Head Start from these attacks. We make it easy by giving you a
draft letter and all the talking points you need!

References:
[1] [ [link removed] ]Head Start Program Facts: Fiscal Year 2024
[2] [ [link removed] ]New Report Finds Fewer Child Care Providers and Increased Prices,
Highlighting Need for Significant Federal Investment in Child Care
[3] [ [link removed] ]Head Start Program Facts: Fiscal Year 2021
[4] [ [link removed] ]Healthy Children Are Ready to Learn

 


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