Rep. Swalwell Announces Grant for Head Start Programs in Alameda County

Provided by the office of Congressman Eric Swalwell 

U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) today announced that Child, Family & Community Services (CFCS) in Union City was selected for a seven million dollar federal grant for its Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Hayward, Union City, Fremont and other cities in southern Alameda County. The grant was awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services.

“I congratulate Child, Family & Community Services for receiving this federal funding, a recognition of the important services they provide to children. CFCS provides learning opportunities to more than 1,200 children in southern Alameda County who would not otherwise have access to critical early education, truly giving them a head start to life,” said Swalwell. “Sadly, Head Start programs were impacted by the reckless budget cuts known as the sequester. While I commend CFCS for maintaining their services for the children enrolled, we are unable to meet the needs of all of the children who qualify for this program in the East Bay. Our kids deserve better, and I stand as a partner to CFCS in urging Congress to reverse the sequester.”

“Child, Family & Community Services is proud to have its funding renewed by the Office of Head Start and to continue to deliver services to children and families in Southern Alameda County,” said Denny Stein, President, Board of Directors, CFCS. “In the face of sequester cuts, CFCS has worked hard to maintain the level of services and the number of enrolled  children in both Head Start and Early Head Start programs, but unfortunately expansion plans have had to be put on hold despite the growing need in the community. Our agency would like to thank the Administration for Children and Families' Region IX office, our teachers, and office staff for their loyalty and we look forward to the start of the school year.”

Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development. The program saw a 5.27 percent cut in funding from the across-the-board cuts known as sequester. Earlier this year, Congressman Swalwell visited the John Muir Head Start Program in Hayward.