Congresswoman Scholten Announces $207,898 for Head Start and Early Start Programs in West Michigan
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03) announced Michigan Family Resources will receive $142,212 and the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) will receive $65,686 in federal funding for their Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The investments are through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“Every child deserves a strong foundation of support, and that's exactly what Head Start and Early Head Start help provide for more than 700,000 families every year," said Congresswoman Scholten. “These programs give our youngest learners the tools they need to thrive and they give working families the peace of mind to know their children are safe, healthy, and learning. I will keep fighting hard to protect and expand these critical federal investments in early childhood education.”
"Every day, our team sees firsthand the transformative impact that comprehensive early childhood education has on families right here in Muskegon," said Jennifer Cihak, Executive Director of Early Childhood at MAISD. "This $65,686 investment, driven by the recent cost-of-living adjustment in the federal budget, is a big win for our program. It allows us to permanently increase our pay scales, ensuring we can better support the dedicated educators and staff who pour their hearts into our children every day. We are incredibly grateful to Congresswoman Scholten for her advocacy for West Michigan families and her deep understanding of how critical high-quality childcare is to our entire community."
Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide comprehensive child development services, including education, health, nutrition, and family support to low-income children from birth through age five. Head Start primarily serves children ages three and four, while Early Head Start supports pregnant women, infants, and toddlers.
This funding reflects Rep. Scholten's ongoing work to bring federal investment back to Michigan's Third Congressional District and expand access to quality early childhood education for families across the region. Rep. Scholten has been a consistent champion for affordable, accessible child care, including by introducing her bipartisan Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Act to reduce the cost of child care for working families by sharing costs between parents, employers, and the government.
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