Durham commissioners back letter urging protection of Head Start funding

Durham County commissioners on April 28 unanimously agreed to send a letter to North Carolina's congressional delegation urging lawmakers to protect Head Start funding and programs serving infants through preschoolers.

Terry David, introduced to the board as a Head Start leader, told commissioners, "In Durham alone, we receive about $16,000,000 from the Office of Head Start to serve children and families." He described Head Start and Early Head Start as programs that support pregnant people, infants and children up to age 5 and provide services that enable parents to work. "It would be a big hit to our community," he said.

Commissioner Jacobs emphasized the local stakes and asked that the letter be addressed specifically to North Carolina's federal delegation with Durham County letterhead and the board's electronic signatures. Jacobs told the board there are "490 children in Durham who attend Head Start programs," and urged residents to contact U.S. senators and representatives about proposed federal changes that could cut funding or impose work requirements.

The board voted to transmit the draft letter and to allow Head Start staff and local partners an opportunity to brief the board further. The action was procedural: the board did not adopt new local policy but agreed to a formal advocacy letter reflecting the board's concerns about the potential loss or restructuring of federal Head Start support.

Why it matters: Head Start and Early Head Start fund early-childhood services that local officials say are essential for child development and for enabling parents to participate in the workforce. Local advocates told the board a sudden reduction or elimination of federal funding would affect both service delivery and the county's broader early-childhood investments.