November 14, 2013

Manchin, Rockefeller Announce Funding for Braxton County Head Start Program

WASHINGTON D.C.— Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller today announced more than $531,000 in federal funding for the Braxton County Board of Education to improve and support their Head Start Program

“When we talk about what we value as West Virginians and as Americans, we need to choose our priorities based on our values,” said Senator Manchin.“That means keeping our promises to those who matter the most to us, and our children should be at the top of that list. I am pleased that this grant will help provide the children in Braxton County with the services necessary to succeed. No child’s education, meals or basic health care services provided by Head Start should be stripped away because Congress cannot solve our nation’s spending problems, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to make sure essential programs like Head Start remain funded for West Virginia’s children.”

“We must do everything possible to give children a positive, healthy start in life. For so many decades, the Head Start Program and its wonderful and dedicated teachers and staff in West Virginia have given so much of themselves to make sure our most disadvantaged girls and boys are prepared to handle the demands of classroom instruction,” said Rockefeller, a long-time advocate for the Head Start Program. “We’ve seen what a difference it makes in the futures of our youngest ones when they’re provided access to a good meal, social services, and a caring counselor and teacher. I’m thrilled Braxton County is receiving this funding boost that goes toward helping our youngest West Virginians succeed when they start school.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $531,336 to the Braxton County Board of Education for its Head Start Program.

Head Start is a national development program for low-income children that helps prepare them for school from a young age. The program, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), offers eligible children and their families access to critical health, nutrition, education, and social services.

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