December 18, 2009

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) announced today that six organizations in Connecticut are slated to receive more than $3.1 million in Early Head Start grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funds are being made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“For years, the Early Head Start program has provided critical health and educational benefits to low-income children during their most formative years—from birth until age three,” said Dodd. “This funding will create dozens of new jobs and provide an invaluable service to hundreds of Connecticut families. It’s just another example of how economic recovery funds are being put to excellent use by investing in our communities while creating jobs at the same time. On behalf of families across Connecticut, I was proud to help secure this vital funding.”

Early Head Start provides comprehensive early education, health, nutrition and social services to low-income infants and toddlers and their families. Dodd has been a long-time champion of early education programs, including Early Head Start and Head Start.

The following Connecticut organizations will receive Early Head Start grants:

• Connecticut Institute for Communities, Danbury — $723,758
• Thames Valley Council for Community Action, New London/Norwich — $368,102
• Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center — $250,491
• Area Cooperative Educational Services, Middlesex County — $522,998
• Action for Bridgeport Community Development — $769,301
• United Way of Greater New Haven — $552,619

Dodd is a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families.

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