Local Agency Leaders Meet with Representatives about Programs for At-Risk Families

Mark Schlater and Shirley Hathaway attending the National Head Start
Leadership Institute and visiting our local U.S. Representatives

On January 26th, two members of the Council on Rural Services, the local grantee in Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Greene, Logan, Miami, Preble, Shelby and Van Wert Counties, attended the National Head Start Leadership Institute.

They also visited the Washington DC offices of our local Representatives John Boehner, Jim Jordan, Steve Austria, and Ray Latta, furnishing them information about why it is important to maintain funding for Head Start and Early Head Start in the upcoming budget process

Shirley Hathaway, Executive Director and Mark Schlater, Chief Operating Office traveled armed with a wealth of community success stories and countless facts and studies that show Head Start and other federal programs work to educate children.

They also discussed the commonsense economic investment for our local communities; by providing jobs, increased sales to local companies, and tax dollars to the counties, cities and schools.

They spoke about the critical early education, health, nutrition, child care, parent involvement, and family support services that Head Start provides. In addition they informed Members of Congress of the proven return on the investment. For every $1 invested in Head Start, our nation receives $7 back in increased earnings, employment, family stability, and decreased welfare dependency.

Shirley Hathaway said, “Despite the intense pressure Congress is under to reign in government spending, we know that Head Start has bipartisan support. Democrats and Republicans alike agree that the education of our country’s young children is a top priority and that Head Start is integral to ensuring at-risk children’s future success.”

Mark Schlater added, “We appreciate Representative Boehner and Jordan’s aides meeting with us. We hope they understand that nationwide, nearly a million at-risk children and struggling families depend on Head Start for basic early education, nutrition and health services. We are at a critical crossroad and any cut to these services hurt children, families, and economies in our local communities.”

For more information about Council on Rural Services – programs for innovative learning, check the web site at www.councilonruralservices.org or call 937-778-5220.