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Capstone Head Start director warns federal cuts would unravel family‑stabilization services
Summary
Committee heard Capstone Head Start Director Christie Swenson explain program eligibility, how Head Start integrates education, health and family services, and the risks posed by possible federal funding cuts. Swenson said family‑services work is central and difficult to replace at state level.
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Christie Swenson, director of Capstone Head Start and chair of the Vermont Head Start Association, told the House Human Services Committee on May 14 that Head Start programs provide education, health and intensive family‑stabilization services for low‑income children and families and cautioned that federal funding reductions would erode services that local agencies and state programs rely on.
“Most people are familiar with our high‑quality early childhood education, but that’s one of three things that we do,” said Swenson. She described Head Start as serving prenatal through kindergarten and noted the program’s combined focus on education, health and family stability.
Swenson outlined Head Start eligibility rules used by local grantees: children who meet federal poverty guidelines (100 percent of the federal poverty level) are income‑eligible; up to 30 percent of enrollees may fall between 100 and 130 percent of the poverty level; and up to 10 percent of enrollees…
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