Press Releases

Lawrence, MA – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) today announced a $1,215,478 Early Head Start - Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CCP) grant from the Department of Health and Human Services for Community Day Care Center of Lawrence, Inc.

“I am pleased that these Early Head Start - Child Care Partnerships funds will support kids growing up in Lawrence. This investment will bring real and positive progress to our community. Programs like EHS-CCP have a proven track record of success in Massachusetts and around the country and represent exactly the type of investments the federal government should be making in children and families who need help the most. I also want to congratulate the team at Community Day Care Center of Lawrence, Inc. for their work in securing this funding. I am proud to support the Head Start programs, and other programs that help make affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities available to all, regardless of income,” said Rep. Trahan.   

“We are thrilled that The Community Group received an Early Head Start renewal grant to continue providing needed services in our center-based and family child care programs. From the beginning, in 2015, the EHS-Child Care Partnership grant helped provide early, continuous, and intensive child development and family support services to the families in our community that need it the most. To continue providing these services for another five years is wonderful for our agency, our families, and the City of Lawrence,” said Patricia Meade, Assistant Deputy Director, Child Care Services, Community Day Care Center of Lawrence, Inc.

Background:

Child care providers who participate in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and Early Head Start/Head Start programs have been working together for many years to meet the needs of children and families. The Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) initiative brings together the best of Early Head Start and child care through layering of funding to provide comprehensive and continuous services to low-income infants, toddlers, and their families. EHS-CCP enhances developmental services and supports for low-income infants and toddlers, and their families, by providing strong relationship-based experiences and preparing them for the transition into Head Start and preschool.

Head Start and Early Head Start (EHS) are vital federal programs that promote school readiness for children ages birth to five by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development. Services also include health, nutrition, social services, and early childhood education for low income children and their families. Head Start grants are awarded directly to public or private non-profit organizations, including community-based and faith-based organizations, or for-profit agencies within a community that wish to compete for funds.

Earlier this week, Congresswoman Trahan voted in favor of H.R. 2740, a “minibus” package of fiscal year 2020 appropriations bills that passed the House which, among many other things, provided $11.5 billion in funding for Head Start – a $1.5 billion increase, which Rep. Trahan helped fight for. More information about that bill, and other Massachusetts priorities included in it, can be found HERE:

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