Press Releases

Scranton, PA – Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced that the Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA has received $9,527,902 from the Department of Health and Human Services for their Head Start programs in Lackawanna, Wayne, Pike and Susquehanna Counties. Head Start provides low income families and children with high-quality, comprehensive early childhood education to prepare them for a successful transition to elementary school.

“Success in elementary school and beyond starts with a quality pre-school education,” said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Thanks to organizations like the Agency for Community EmPOWERment, our youngest citizens have every opportunity to gain school-readiness skills and experiences regardless of their families’ income. That’s why I’ll continue to be a proud supporter of full funding for early childhood education.”

“I am proud of the work we’re doing through our Head Start programs to prepare children for their kindergarten education. But that’s not all we do. We also provide wraparound services to many of the 1,200 families enrolled in our program,” said Jim Wansacz, Executive Director of the Agency for Community EmPOWERment. “I am grateful for Congressman Cartwright’s continued support of early childhood education. Thanks to this funding and his advocacy in Washington, we’re able to provide these essential services to families who need them most.”

Head Start’s educational programs and services focus on early learning, health and family wellbeing, child growth and development to engage parents in their child’s education. Head Start and Early Head Start grant recipients provide services to more than 1 million children nationwide annually. These services are funded and overseen by the Office of Head Start (OHS) within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services.