Press Releases

Scranton, PA – Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced $1,639,392 for the Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for their Child Care Partnership Grant for their Head Start program. Head Start provides high quality, comprehensive early childhood education for low-income children and their families to prepare them for a successful transition to elementary school.

“Head Start programs ensure that children from low-income families have every chance of succeeding in school and beyond. I’m grateful for the work the Agency for Community EmPOWERment do to provide quality education for Northeastern Pennsylvania families,” said Rep. Cartwright. “I am proud to support this funding that helps our youngest citizens start their education off on the right foot because an investment in our young people is an investment in our future.”

“Studies show that Pre-K education is fundamental to a successful learning experience, and the Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA is ensuring 1,200 children in four counties have that important educational foundation,” said Jim Wansacz, Executive Director of the Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA. “We’re thankful to Congressman Cartwright for his continued support for federal funding to support partnership grants that deal with early childhood education so all children have the opportunity to attend pre-school.”

Head Start programs provide low-income families with educational services focused on early learning, health and family well-being, and children’s growth and development while actively engaging parents in their child’s education. Head Start serves 1 million children and pregnant women in communities across the country. These services are funded and overseen by the Office of Head Start (OHS) within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) initiative brings together the best of Early Head Start and child care through layering of funding to provide comprehensive and continuous services to low-income infants, toddlers, and their families. EHS-CCP enhances developmental services and supports for low-income infants and toddlers, and their families, by providing strong relationship-based experiences and preparing them for the transition into Head Start and preschool.