Hhs Awards $72 Million In Early Head Start Grants
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced $72 million in Grants OF $72 million to 160 local agencies to administer the Early Head Start Program have been announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The funds will be used to increase Early Head Start enrollment by approximately 7,000 infants and toddlers, bringing total Early Head Start enrollment to 62,400.
Early Head Start provides comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income pregnant women and families with children under the age of three. It also teaches parenting skills and helps families move toward self-sufficiency.
In 2001, there were 650 Early Head Start programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. These programs served more than 55,000 children under the age of three for some $550 million. Early Head Start began in 1995.
Findings from a seven-year national evaluation of the Early Head Start program released in June 2002 showed that 3-year-old children completing the program performed better in cognitive and language development than children not participating in the program.
The children also developed behavior patterns that prepared them for success in school, such as engaging in tasks, paying attention and showing less aggression.
Parents in Early Head Start showed more positive parenting behavior, reported less physical punishment of their children and did more to help their children learn at home through activities such as reading to their children. The effects of the program were sustained and broadened from earlier assessments completed a year ago when the group of children was 2 years old.
“Early Head Start is an excellent example of this Administration’s dedication to leaving no child behind. This program enables the youngest economically disadvantaged children to start to develop the skills they need to succeed in life,” said Wade F. Horn, assistant secretary for children and families. The list of grants is available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030109.html
