Dozens of chief programs nationwide, including at least six in California, have experienced delays since the Trump administration announced the freeze of federal funds.
The centers relied entirely on federal funds to provide childcare to low-income children and fell into panic last week when the Office of Management and Budget announced a full freeze of federal aid. The White House later clarified that the head would not be affected by the freezing, and OMB revoked the memorandum after being temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
However, based on the razor’s thin profits, an increasing number of Head Start Grant recipients have reported delays in approved grant funds. Although most startup programs have not suffered significant disruption, some people, besides shutting down services, others scramble to find other sources of funding to keep the door open, the association said.
As of Thursday (announced a 10-day federal freeze), the association said at least 52 programs in 22 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico are still experiencing funding delays. These programs serve nearly 20,000 children from birth to five years of age, and report that they receive “pending” or “processing” messages when requesting funding from online payment systems.
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“We have no ability to predict the payment of rent, buy the food we need to feed our children and meet the payroll, and our entire operation is at risk. The people suffering the greatest pain are the children we care for. “We urge Donald President Trump and acting leaders of the Department of Health and Human Services immediately addressed the issue that led to unnecessary funding delays. ”
As of Tuesday, Melanee Cottrill, executive director of Head Start, California, said at least six California-based Head Start programs are experiencing funding delays. Cumulatively, these programs employ 884 people and serve 3,856 children. She said at least one program in Los Angeles County (with 250 employees and 1,400 children) is “on the verge of closure” because even a small delay can be “a serious problem.”
Payments have been received for this and one of the other programs.
Launching a plan requires spending money within three days of receiving these fees, so they tend to collect bills and then request payment once or twice a week. Usually, the money will land it in their bank account one day later. However, due to the announcement of a federal freeze, it is planned to wait for 5 to 7 days of money.
“Our plans have bills and they don’t have money to pay,” Cotterill said. In particular, smaller plans tend to have no financial mats and generate late fees and interest, and they are not allowed to use the head start funds to pay, This puts them in financial danger. The starting program across California serves approximately 90,000 children and employs 25,000 workers.
Several plans in other states have temporarily closed due to funding delays. Cottrill said that within the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal startup office is in the federal government, and the Trump administration prohibits communication with the public. “We didn’t get the usual guidance and we missed in the wind trying to figure out what was going on.”
The Los Angeles County Office of Education is the largest first-time awarder in the region, contracting with school districts and private nonprofits to serve 8,000 children and families. Luis Bautista, executive director of Head Start and Early Learning, said recently that the weekly $10 million payment requirement was delayed by a week.
He said the county office has enough reserves to keep its plans running, but that is not the case for most starter awardees, which tend to be small institutions.
“The moment you tell them ‘no money’, even for days or weeks, they may need to consider temporarily closing the door and addressing the staff.”
Jocelyn Tucker, assistant director of early childhood education company in Pasadena, which serves 500 children, said she has not experienced funding delays, but said there is still a sense of “widespread uncertainty” in her plans.
“Everyone is nervous, everyone is on the edge and wants to know what will happen. So are parents. Head Start serves the lowest income families. What else?” Tucker said. “Parents need to get their kids off work. If the kids have nowhere to go, they won’t be able to go to work or pay their bills. It’s just a snowball effect.”
This article is part of the Times Early Childhood Education Program, focusing on learning and development of California children from birth to 5 years of age. For more information about the program and its charitable funders, please go to latimes.com/earlyed.
