Sequester hits Head Start
Updated: March 18, 2013
CHAMPAIGN -- Automatic cuts known as Sequestration hit Central Illinois. It could kick thousands of kids out of preschool.
Head Start is national program providing services to low-income families. It's facing a 5% cut. Now parents are doing whatever they can to stop it.
They're Taking Action and strolled into Rodney Davis' office Friday. Shawnee Hibler is a single mom. Her 5-year-old son Joshua has been in Head Start for 3 years.
"Head Start meant a lot for our family."
Hibler herself went to Head Start as a child.
"Anything that the parents need they're there to help to provide for them. They're there for the whole family. This is gonna be devastating."
The program provides health, dental and counseling services, but now all of that is in danger for these kids. Head Start is a federally-funded program. Sequestration is cutting it by 5%. For Illinois, that means 2,200 kids could be kicked out.
"It may seem small, but when you're dealing with children, it's not small," Hibler said.
That's what these moms told Rodney Davis' staff. Erin Van Horn is going back to school to get her degree in social work.
"I'm studying school while they're in school. It works out really well," Van Horn said.
But now she fears her three children will be among the ones let go.
"I'd be afraid they wouldn't be totally ready for kindergarten. I can do as much as I can at home, but sometimes they need that extra structure."
Her daughter talked about her favorite teacher Mrs. Curtis.
"She helps kids."
Now these moms just hope their kids can continue to learn and will do anything they can to make sure it never stops.
"Everything I do to volunteer and give back my time to Head Start, could really never repay everything they've helped my family with."
Head Start is national program providing services to low-income families. It's facing a 5% cut. Now parents are doing whatever they can to stop it.
They're Taking Action and strolled into Rodney Davis' office Friday. Shawnee Hibler is a single mom. Her 5-year-old son Joshua has been in Head Start for 3 years.
"Head Start meant a lot for our family."
Hibler herself went to Head Start as a child.
"Anything that the parents need they're there to help to provide for them. They're there for the whole family. This is gonna be devastating."
The program provides health, dental and counseling services, but now all of that is in danger for these kids. Head Start is a federally-funded program. Sequestration is cutting it by 5%. For Illinois, that means 2,200 kids could be kicked out.
"It may seem small, but when you're dealing with children, it's not small," Hibler said.
That's what these moms told Rodney Davis' staff. Erin Van Horn is going back to school to get her degree in social work.
"I'm studying school while they're in school. It works out really well," Van Horn said.
But now she fears her three children will be among the ones let go.
"I'd be afraid they wouldn't be totally ready for kindergarten. I can do as much as I can at home, but sometimes they need that extra structure."
Her daughter talked about her favorite teacher Mrs. Curtis.
"She helps kids."
Now these moms just hope their kids can continue to learn and will do anything they can to make sure it never stops.
"Everything I do to volunteer and give back my time to Head Start, could really never repay everything they've helped my family with."
