Keep Trump's #HANDSOFF Head Start!

#HANDSOFF Head Start

In his latest morally bankrupt and completely disastrous move, Trump’s Presidential budget details were leaked, including his plans to eliminate Head Start. This would rob children and families of opportunity and hurt our economy by zeroing out this vital and effective program.

Head Start has been an extraordinary and unmitigated success for families, for children, for small businesses, and for our economy as a whole. 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. Over the last 60 years it has provided opportunity through childcare to more than 38 million children and their families. Head Start has earned the strong bipartisan support it has enjoyed for decades—support we will now rely on as we look to Congress to reject this reckless proposal.

Take action now: tell Congress to hold the line and keep Trump’s HANDS OFF Head Start.

Dear Member of Congress,

Last week, the Trump Administration's budget proposal plans were leaked and included the disastrous elimination of Head Start, threatening to rip opportunity from over 770,000 children from families across our country, push parents out of the labor force, harm small businesses, and hurt our economy. We are urging you to address this reckless and harmful action by protecting Head Start immediately.

The importance of child care programs like Head Start cannot be overstated. Head Start operates in all 50 states, opening doors for parents to go to work, kids to thrive, childcare workers to stay in their profession, and people to contribute to their communities. Parents who otherwise would not be able to afford child care rely on it when they work or go to school, underscoring the importance not only for kids, but also for the financial sustainability of families, small businesses, and our economy. 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. These programs also significantly bolster the development of early childhood mental health (like social-emotional development), language, and cognitive development.

Children who have positive and engaging interactions in their 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. Children who attend Early Head Start and transition to Head Start are more ready for kindergarten than children who do not attend Head Start. The unprecedented and unwarranted firings of the people who ensure child care programs can provide care where kids are safe, loved, and learning will endanger these opportunities that early childhood education provides.

This is why it is critical to protect Head Start against any moves to eliminate or cut the program. Actions like this put our nation’s kids at risk and throw a child care system that is already broken and massively under-resourced into further turmoil. We should be finding ways to lift up families and our economy, not undermining families’ ability to support themselves and their children.

We urge you to protect Head Start.

Sincerely,

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