January 07, 2014

Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce Funding for Wyoming County Head Start Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, (all D-W.Va.), Tuesday announced Head Start funding for MountainHeart Community Services in Oceana.

 “Investing in educational opportunities is critical to creating a successful future for our state,” Manchin said. “Our children are our top priority, and we are responsible for making sure that the next generation of West Virginians can someday compete in the global marketplace. I am pleased that this funding will provide the proper care, education and services necessary to lead the children of Oceana to a brighter future.”

“MountainHeart Head Start, and its dedicated teachers, administrators, and volunteers, are providing crucial education and health services to our children, literally working to ensure that every child has the opportunity to get a head start and succeed in school and life,” said Rahall.  “I am fighting hard for our State’s children and their families who depend on these community programs and the Federal investments that keep them going.”

“The right support at an early age can make a huge difference in the preparedness of our youngest West Virginians when they enter the classroom. This is exactly why funding local Head Start programs is critical to our children’s futures,” said Rockefeller. “This award will provide a significant boost for MountainHeart Community Services’ Head Start program and its goal of helping our youngest ones in Oceana get a healthy start in life.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $1,293,825 to MountainHeart Community Services, Inc., in Oceana to continue its Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which serve pre-school aged children at eight sites throughout Wyoming County.
 
Head Start is a national development program for low-income children that prepare them for school from a young age. The HHS program provides comprehensive education activities in classrooms, as well as other services such as social, nutritional, health and mental health, and transportation for children and their families.

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