Nearly 1,600 more children will receive services

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 1,600 more children across the state will benefit from the expansion of Early Head Start services funded by $18.6 million in federal Recovery Act funds, Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak and Public Welfare Secretary Estelle B. Richman announced today.

The funds were awarded to 19 providers by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"A critical focus of the federal recovery program was to bolster education, and making investments in early childhood education is one of the smartest strategies," Zahorchak said. "These grants will aid tremendously in our ongoing efforts to build a strong, quality early education continuum for Pennsylvania's children and families."

Richman said the impact of recovery funding already is evident in Pennsylvania's communities, where it has been used to restore and sustain programs that might otherwise have suffered cuts. She said the additional funds for Early Head Start will further build on those benefits.

"Being able to use these grants to further build our educational support network will help to ensure we reach our children and their families at the most important times in their development, giving them the gift of opportunity and a chance to build a stronger foundation to start from in the coming years," Richman said.

The Early Head Start program was established in 1995 to build on the federal Head Start program that began in 1965 to promote school readiness and provide related services to preschoolers and their families. Early Head Start serves children from birth to three years of age and pregnant women to promote healthy development in the earliest years.

Media contacts: Michael Race (PDE), 717-783-9802, or Stacey Witalec (DPW), 717-787-4592

Editor's Note: A list of grant recipients and amounts awarded follows.

Recipients of Early Head Start Program Funding

Community Services for Children Inc., Allentown

$1,028,000 to serve an additional 24 children

Jefferson-Clarion Head Start Inc., Brookville

$1,146,347 to serve an additional 84 children

Butler County Educational Service Center, Butler

$403,274 to serve an additional 40 children

Franklin County Head Start, Chambersburg

$618,526 to serve an additional 72 children

Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc., Greensburg

$487,387 to serve an additional 78 children

PathStone, Harrisburg

$990,645 to serve an additional 72 children

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg

$1,186,084 to serve an additional 128 children

Keystone Service Systems Inc., Harrisburg

$1,100,528 to serve an additional 70 children

Professional Family Care Services Inc., Johnstown

$460,764 to serve an additional 72 children

Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, Lewisburg

$894,015 to serve an additional 76 children

Snyder Union Mifflin Child Development Inc., Mifflinsburg

$140,235 to serve an additional 16 children

The Health Federation of Philadelphia, Philadelphia

$472,081 to serve an additional 60 children

Maternity Care Coalition, Philadelphia

$1,945,156 to serve an additional 168 children

School District of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh

$443,448 to serve an additional 72 children

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh

$1,069,331 to serve an additional 140 children

Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency Inc., Scranton

$1,002,658 to serve an additional 108 children

Luzerne County Head Start Inc., Wilkes-Barre

$1,132,403 to serve an additional 106 children

Lycoming/Clinton County Commission, Williamsport

$2,703,310 to serve an additional 92 children

Community Progress Council Inc., York

$1,415,875 to serve an additional 100 children

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education

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