Head Start funding vital to serving children and families

Published: 03-10-2023 4:33 PM

On Tuesday, March 7, at the invitation of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), I had the opportunity to testify before the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy about how vital Head Start services are to children, their families and caregivers, and our communities. I presented many facts and figures about the early learning workforce crisis, but what I hope the Senate gained from my testimony is an understanding of the human dimension of these issues.

The Head Start workforce has faced decades of neglect and underfunding. Poverty-level wages — compounded by the complexity and emotional strain of this important work, most especially during the last three years — has made recruiting and retaining qualified professionals incredibly difficult. Currently, eight of our 27 classrooms at Community Action Pioneer Valley Head Start and three of our seven home visiting programs are closed due to our inability to hire new staff.

What is the impact of “turnover” in early education and care settings? For children who may have already suffered multiple breaks in attachment in their young lives, the sudden loss of their teacher can be especially damaging. Sudden and repeated losses create distrust and disengagement. And for staff, the repeated loss of their colleagues and teams represents the stressors of being spread way, way too thin. These stressors compound the main stressor of not making a fair wage, causing yet more “turnover.” In Head Start, we support children’s healthy development, which takes place in the context of relationships. That’s why we also support their families and caregivers. Teachers and staff are also a part of the system of care and relationships. I thank Chairperson Warren, as well as Ranking Member Kennedy, and the members of the Subcommittee for the opportunity to share my perspective. And, on behalf of our historically underserved children and their families, I hope we can rely on them to ensure that Head Start will have sufficient funds to continue this most important work.

Anat Weisenfreund

Greenfield

]]>

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Greenfield Police seek robbery suspect
Driver taken to hospital after Interstate 91 rollover in Bernardston
New Salem man faces charges after striking school bus in Barre
My Turn: Biden’s record and accomplishments are extremely positive
‘There’s nothing we can’t fix’: Busy Bee Computers opens in Greenfield
Greenfield’s Lucas Allenby, Landon Allenby qualify for USASA Nationals