Congressman Salazar announces $1 million in federal funding for San Luis Valley Head Start

“I will continue to fight to keep our children educated and our teachers employed”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman John Salazar announced today that the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley will be receiving $1,061,318 in federal funding for its Head Start program. Funding for this program comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which Congressman Salazar worked to pass in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The mission of the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley over the last 10 years has been to increase the quality, availability and accessibility of early childhood services for children and families in the six county service area of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties. As a nonprofit organization the council currently implements a number of programs to obtain this goal. With this funding, the local Early Childhood Council will provide 72 pregnant women and children, from birth to three years, with comprehensive child development services across the valley. This funding will create or retain 22 jobs for early childhood professionals in the community.

The Early Childhood Council will contract with nine early childhood programs to provide the highest quality inclusive Early Head Start Services to economically disadvantaged children and families in the community. Three new infant and toddler child care programs will open in the towns of Alamosa, Center and San Luis; two programs will re-open classrooms in Alamosa and Blanca/Ft. Garland; and funds will support four existing infant-toddler programs in Alamosa, Del Norte/South Fork, Saguache and Sargent.

Congressman Salazar offered the following statement on the funding for the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley:

“Like many residents of the San Luis Valley I grew up without much money. But my parents committed themselves to making sure that my brothers and sisters and I received a quality education. Head Start programs can help rural children get the kind of education they need to excel in the modern world and I am happy to have helped provide this funding. I will continue to fight to keep our children educated and our teachers employed.”

Sherri A. Valdez, Executive Director, Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley shared the following statement about the funding:

“I feel this is an excellent example of the Early Childhood Council work in the State of Colorado. After many years of building relationships to increase quality and availability of early childhood services, we are able to bring partners together to make a strong impact on services for young children and families in our community. This will not only provide quality child care for our little ones, but will help to strengthen the collaboration with early learning, parents, health and mental health. Without the willingness of existing Head Start Grantees, Licensed Child Care Providers and our Community, this opportunity would not be possible.”

For information on the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley, contact Sherri Valdez at (719) 587-5365.

###

Home | Press Room


	For immediate release: January 6, 2010
	Contact: (202) 536-6190 Edward Stern, Deputy Press Secretary
	Congressman Salazar announces $1 million in federal funding for San Luis Valley Head Start
	“I will continue to fight to keep our children educated and our teachers employed” WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman John Salazar announced today that the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley will be receiving $1,061,318 in federal funding for its Head Start program. Funding for this program comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which Congressman Salazar worked to pass in the U.S. House of Representatives. The mission of the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley over the last 10 years has been to increase the quality, availability and accessibility of early childhood services for children and families in the six county service area of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties. As a nonprofit organization the council currently implements a number of programs to obtain this goal. With this funding, the local Early Childhood Council will provide 72 pregnant women and children, from birth to three years, with comprehensive child development services across the valley. This funding will create or retain 22 jobs for early childhood professionals in the community. The Early Childhood Council will contract with nine early childhood programs to provide the highest quality inclusive Early Head Start Services to economically disadvantaged children and families in the community. Three new infant and toddler child care programs will open in the towns of Alamosa, Center and San Luis; two programs will re-open classrooms in Alamosa and Blanca/Ft. Garland; and funds will support four existing infant-toddler programs in Alamosa, Del Norte/South Fork, Saguache and Sargent. Congressman Salazar offered the following statement on the funding for the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley: “Like many residents of the San Luis Valley I grew up without much money. But my parents committed themselves to making sure that my brothers and sisters and I received a quality education. Head Start programs can help rural children get the kind of education they need to excel in the modern world and I am happy to have helped provide this funding. I will continue to fight to keep our children educated and our teachers employed.” Sherri A. Valdez, Executive Director, Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley shared the following statement about the funding: “I feel this is an excellent example of the Early Childhood Council work in the State of Colorado. After many years of building relationships to increase quality and availability of early childhood services, we are able to bring partners together to make a strong impact on services for young children and families in our community. This will not only provide quality child care for our little ones, but will help to strengthen the collaboration with early learning, parents, health and mental health. Without the willingness of existing Head Start Grantees, Licensed Child Care Providers and our Community, this opportunity would not be possible.” For information on the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley, contact Sherri Valdez at (719) 587-5365.
	### Home \| Press Room