FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Monday, June 2, 2008
CONTACT: Brian Cook
(202) 225-3202
Karen Blinstrub, Child, Family, and Community Services, Inc.
(510) 284-4220

Washington, D.C. – Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) announced today that Child, Family, and Community Services (CFCS) of Union City will receive a $2,539,981 Head Start Projects grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“This grant, which matches the previous year’s level of funding from Head Start, will help our community provide the high quality comprehensive services that we know young children need, so that they are prepared for entry to kindergarten,” said Rep. Stark. “I am especially excited that CFCS was able to secure resources to support Early Head Start, a program that provides services and supports to pregnant women and families with infants and toddlers.”

“I am pleased that families in the south county area will continue to benefit from these valuable and promising programs.”

“Children flourish in the comprehensive system of services provided through Head Start,” said Karen Blinstrub, Executive Director of Child, Family and Community Services, Inc. “This important anti-poverty program allows children a chance to start their educational experience on a more equal footing with their more fortunate peers.”

Head Start is the most successful, longest-running national school readiness program in the United States. It provides comprehensive education, medical and dental services, mental health services, nutrition, social services, full inclusion of young children with disabilities, and parent involvement services to low-income children age 3 to 5 and their families. Nationwide, more than 25 million preschool-aged children have benefited from Head Start. Throughout California, Head Start serves more than 98,000 children.

Early Head Start is a federally funded community-based program for low-income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women. Its mission is to promote healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, enhance the development of very young children, and promote healthy family functioning. In 2006, Early Head Start programs served nearly 62,000 children under the age of three.

Child Family and Community Services is a non-profit organization providing education and family support services to low-income families living in southern Alameda County. The agency was established in 1965 as part of the Office of Economic Opportunity and was incorporated in 1974 to become the provider for the Head Start Program of Southern Alameda County. CFCS programs currently serve more than 3,000 families each year throughout the south county area.