Thousands of Children, Jobs at Stake
“Congress is debating proposals to cut the federal budget by 22.4% — if these cuts are enacted, almost 2,000 staff members will lose their jobs and almost 9,000 children and their families will be dropped from critical education, health, and support service programs statewide,” said Lauri Frichtl, Executive Director of the Illinois Head Start Association.
[SPRINGFIELD] – As elected officials in Washington prepare to debate the FY 2011 budget, the future of 200,000 kids – including over 41,500 in Illinois – hangs in the balance. The Illinois Head Start Association is calling on Congress to maintain current funding levels for Head Start, a 45 year-old national commitment that pioneered early learning and whole-family approaches as a pathway to lifelong success.
“Congress is debating proposals to cut the federal budget by 22.4% — if these cuts are enacted, almost 2,000 staff members will lose their jobs and almost 9,000 children and their families will be dropped from critical education, health, and support service programs statewide,” said Lauri Frichtl, Executive Director of the Illinois Head Start Association. “The impacts of these cuts would take a devastating toll on communities across Illinois, resulting in more kindergarteners unprepared for school, higher special education costs and increased economic insecurity for our most vulnerable families.”
Head Start and Early Head Start programs strive to prepare future generations to rise to the challenge of keeping America at the forefront of innovation and ingenuity amongst rising global competition. If we don’t stabilize and invest in the communities that need it most, the future of our economy will remain less competitive and less innovative – which means fewer jobs for everyone.
Investing in early childhood education generates a 7% to 10% return on investment each year, according to Nobel Laureate economist James Heckman. The Heckman equation found, “investing in early childhood education is a cost-effective strategy – even during a budget crisis.” Further, access to affordable care ensures that more at-risk parents and families can stay in the workplace.
Head Start is a common sense investment for the United States because of its proven return on investment: For every $1 invested in Head Start, our nation receives $7 back in increased earnings, employment, family stability, and decreased welfare dependency, crime costs, grade repetition, and special education.
There are countless personal stories about Head Start’s ability to pave the way to success. Illinois resident, Angelica, exemplifies how Head Start changed the direction of her family’s journey:
My son, Salvador, has been in the Head Start program since he was nine months old. As a teenage mother, it has been a challenge to stay in school and take care of my baby. Luckily, the Head Start staff has taught me about health, safety, and child development. Salvador was slow in developing, so teachers referred him to speech and other therapists. Head Start staff has helped me establish a routine for my son and keep up with his shots. Because I knew my son was being taken care of at Head Start, I was able to go back to school with confidence. Head Start staff helped me complete my first job application for a part-time job; I didn’t know how. The staff encouraged me to stay in school and to study hard. Thanks to Head Start, I will be graduating high school in June.
Started by President Johnson and saved by President Reagan, Head Start embodies a non-partisan national commitment to ensure opportunity for every American. During a time of economic hardship, policymakers should do everything in their power to nurture job security and growth and to prepare a capable workforce for the changing economy.
Says Frichtl, “We are grateful our congressional representatives gave us the opportunity to share the many Head Start success stories in recent meetings. We hope they will take the appropriate steps to discern the vulnerable areas where budget cuts simply cannot be afforded. Clearly, with the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people at stake, what we cannot afford to cut are their lifelines.”
