Boulder County Head Start reaches full enrollment; Mapleton YMCA classrooms closed after sewer backup; CCAP funding still frozen

Boulder County Head Start told commissioners on Sept. 16 that the program has reached its funded enrollment of 110 children and delivered 3,330 meals in August through its meal vendor, BVSD, though attendance-adjusted reimbursement covered fewer meals. Division Manager Sakania Ogren reported total meals delivered in August at 3,330 with meals invoiced to the program at $9,573.75 and federal/state reimbursement of $7,007.96, and said the program’s net cost for the month was $22,465.80.

Ogren told the board the program moved from 106 to 110 enrolled funded slots during August and that classroom attendance averaged about 85% across three sites. She reported a budget outlook showing Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) revenue dropping from roughly $523,000 in the 2023–24 year to $140,000 in 2024–25 and projected to fall to $0 in the 2025–26 year because of an ongoing CCAP freeze that started in April 2024. Ogren told commissioners staff expect to show the projected revenue decline in the program budget and will report back as circumstances change.

Ogren also gave a facilities update: Boulder County Head Start classrooms at the Mapleton YMCA were closed for a week after a sewer backup that affected both YMCA and Head Start spaces. The city is repairing the external sewer line while mitigation crews complete interior cleanup. Ogren said the site will likely reopen the week of Sept. 22 and the Head Start Mapleton classrooms will extend the school year by one week to May 29 to meet federal grant requirements.

Commissioners asked how families were accommodating the one-week closure; Ogren said most families used informal family care and that the county is still working with the YMCA on cost-sharing for damaged furniture or materials. Commissioner Stoltzmann noted a nationwide injunction of a federal HHS interpretation that would have restricted Head Start as a federal public benefit and said the injunction was “good news,” citing concerns about access to Head Start services. Commissioners discussed that the CCAP freeze could remain in place for some time but that attrition might allow the county to reopen a waitlist sooner than previously projected.

Ogren said regional grant opportunities (a notice of funding opportunity) are expected to open soon and staff will update the board as grant timelines progress.