Quick Take
Santa Cruz County nonprofit Encompass Community Services announced Tuesday that it was stopping the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, but did not rule out resuming operations in the future. The organization has run Head Start locally since 1983.
Encompass Community Services announced Tuesday that it will stop operating the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, federally funded child care programs that serve more than 250 children and families in Santa Cruz County and provide many services such as bilingual early learning to infants and children up to age 5, developmental screening, meals and family support services.
In a media release, Encompass said it had voluntarily exited the program, saying that doing so would allow the nonprofit to reapply and possibly resume Head Start programs in the future.
“This is not a decision we made lightly. In light of the extended federal shutdown, the delayed funding decisions, and the urgent need for stability for the families we serve, we concluded that transitioning the program now is the most responsible way to ensure that Head Start services resume as quickly as possible,” interim Encompass CEO Kim Morrison said in the release.
“We understand how hard this is for the many dedicated teachers, staff and families who have built their lives around Encompass Head Start,” said Encompass Board Chair Elaine Johnson. “Our commitment to serving Santa Cruz County families, however, remains unwavering.”
Encompass has run the program since 1983, but cuts to Head Start’s annual budget and the government shutdown forced the temporary closure of the services on Oct. 29, and the layoff of all 95 workers on Oct. 31. When the government shutdown ended earlier this month, the organization rushed to resume services, but still had not received its annual funding notification from the federal government.
The release sent out on Tuesday said that after the shutdown, the federal Office of Head Start required Encompass to submit an operational plan and budget in 72 hours with requirements the organization says it could not meet, such as a retroactive enrollment target of more than 400 children, up from about 250 before the closure.
The Office of Head Start said that an interim third-party program operator, the Community Development Institute, will provide Head Start and Early Head Start services until the office goes through the process of selecting a new long-term grantee.
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