Learn more about Early Head Start and Head Start programs: http://www.picaheadstart.org/eligibility.html
Early Head Start services in Clark County will get a boost from a new round of federal stimulus money, jump-starting early childhood education assistance for several families living at poverty level.
For the first time, Educational Service District 112 won a roughly $400,000 grant early this month to administer 60 new Early Head Start slots within its Southwest Washington territory.
ESD 112 will partner with Vancouver Public Schools and two Pacific County school districts to provide mostly home-visit services for eligible children up to 3 years old in the two counties.
Leaders say Family Resource Centers now established at six Vancouver elementary schools will take the lead in outreach efforts here. For each family, Early Head Start offers counsel and connection to learning efforts and comprehensive medical, dental and social health services.
“We look at everything, so kids will have a full head start for (elementary) school,” explained Jada Rupley, ESD 112 associate superintendent.
“It’s a new program for (the ESD). We’re very excited about all the possibilities for Southwest Washington,” Rupley said.
She said ESD 112 also intends to partner with schools in north Clark County to provide new slots in that area.
Lower Columbia College in Longview received the bulk of the total $1.3 million stimulus grant to extend Early Head Start services, which will be used in Cowlitz County.
Already in Clark County, 86 Early Head Start slots are serviced by Educational Opportunities for Children and Families. That agency has operated here since 1988.
Last year, EOCF collected $370,000 in stimulus funds. That went to facility and program improvements and long-overdue salary adjustments and training for Early Head Start and Head Start (serving children ages 3 to 5 years) workers, said Executive Director Doug Lehrman.
Rupley said ESD 112 should have expanded service available by June 1. The district already has identified several families in line for assistance; still, anyone interested may contact the ESD at 360-750-7500.
Families must meet federal poverty standards. Under current rules, a family of four may earn no more than $22,050 per year; a family of three, $18,130.
The new federal money may offset loss of Washington state funding for identical early childhood services administered through the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program.
A new state Senate budget plan unveiled on Tuesday would trim $193,000 from ECEAP funding. That would result in the loss of 29 child slots statewide, including an estimated six slots in Clark County, ECEAP leaders said.
The budget plan favored by Gov. Chris Gregoire does not call for an ECEAP reduction, Lehrman said.
Howard Buck: 360-735-4515 or howard.buck@columbian.com.
