News From…
Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California
cardoza report shows tampering with head start could hurt central valley |
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Lawmaker Says 40-Year Old Program Strengthens Families |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2003 |
CONTACT: Bret Ladine (202) 225-6131 |
| WASHINGTON – Thousands of Central Valley children who visited a dentist and a pediatrician last year thanks to Head Start might not receive health care at all if the program is turned over to states, according to a congressional report requested by Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced.
"For decades, Head Start has followed a formula that works, providing education and care to needy children," Cardoza said in response to the report’s findings. "I’ve seen the powerful impact the program can have on families. Head Start is one of our nation’s great success stories, and there is no reason to mess with success." Head Start is a federally funded pre-kindergarten program that serves low-income children and their families, ensuring that they are socially, medically, and educationally ready to meet the challenges ahead. Nationwide, over 900,000 children are enrolled in nearly 2,600 programs. Cardoza requested the report after House Republicans passed President Bush’s plan out of committee on a party-line vote in June. The legislation, H.R. 2210, which is before the full House this week, would allow states to divert funds from the Head Start program to other early childhood programs in the state that do not provide the same extensive services. In his 2004 budget, Bush proposed turning Head Start into a block grant program, effectively giving states a blank check to spend as they pleased. The administration also suggested drastically shrinking the mission of Head Start, changing it from a comprehensive plan that includes education, health care, nutrition, and social services, to a narrow program focused exclusively on literacy.Under the Republican plan, states could cut off Head Start services to three-year-olds, shorten hours, increase class size, eliminate health screening, wipe out health and nutrition education, and still draw their block grants. More than 3,944 children attend 72 Head Start programs in Cardoza’s district, according to the report prepared by the House Committee on Government Reform. The vast majority of these children – 75 percent – live below the poverty line. Of these children, 90 percent have received basic primary health care, 67 percent have had a continuous, accessible source of dental care. The program has also provided mental health services to over 550 children in the district and assistance to nearly 400 children with disabilities. The children enrolled in Head Start in Cardoza’s district are nearly twice as likely than other low-income children to receive basic medical care and over three times as likely to receive dental care, the report found. Head Start has a proven record of success. Studies have shown that Head Start narrows the gap between disadvantaged children and other children in vocabulary, writing skills and social behavior. In addition, Head Start children show IQ gains compared to low-income children who are not in the program. |
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