Aguilar Announces Over $4 Million in Inland Empire Head Start Funding
Rep Pete Aguilar (D-San Bernardino) announced that Easterseals Southern California has been awarded $4,469,703 from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Head Start Programs. The Head Start funding will be used to support Easterseals Early Head Start services, including full-day child care and both center-based and home-based early education programs for Inland Empire children living with or without disabilities. Founded in 1907, Easterseals provides resources to families with disabilities throughout the United States, serving over 1.4 million people each year.
“One of my first jobs was as a Head Start teacher’s aide, where I learned how important the role of early education is to a child’s long-term success. I’m proud to announce this new funding, which will allow more Inland Empire families to utilize critical early-education programs, and I’m grateful to Easterseals Southern California for providing this service to our community,” said Rep. Aguilar.
“Easterseals Southern California is committed to helping create a future that is 100 percent inclusive for all – and essential to that mission is ensuring that from a young age, children are given the best possible start to their lives,” said Carlene Holden, Executive Vice President at Easterseals Southern California. “Many families with young children struggle to find quality care. Thanks to this grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Head Start Programs, Easterseals Child Development Centers in the Inland Empire will be able to serve additional children from the area with childcare and education programs – filling an urgent need for families.”
A Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Aguilar has been a consistent advocate for early-education programs like Head Start. During the 2018 appropriations process, Rep. Aguilar successfully advocated for an increase in funding for Head Start programs for the second consecutive year. For more information on Easterseals Southern California and its services in the area, visit www.easterseals.com/southerncal.
