A few words from Linda
The closure of at least five Office of Head Start regional offices, including Region IX, is a HUGE loss to our dedicated federal and local Head Start staff, who have spent years serving our communities. This decision is NOT a measure of efficiency, it is a direct and devastating blow that will disrupt learning environments for children across our state and jeopardize an already fragile early childhood education (ECE) workforce.
While there have been no direct program cuts, the regional office closures will have a domino effect, increasing strains on an already overburdened social services system and putting our most vulnerable communities at further risk of economic hardship and inequity.
Region IX offices, which serve California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, provide vital guidance and direct support to local Head Start programs. The lack of communication and plan for these closures could result in delayed services and fewer resources for children and families, including vital translation services and technical assistance.
These regional office closures come at a time of already heightened uncertainty and anxiety around the continuation of federal Head Start funding. We want to emphasize that the proposed cuts will have massive repercussions for our nationwide child care infrastructure and ECE workforce, many of whom rely on public assistance programs themselves. While there are still many unknowns ahead of us, what we do know is that we will continue fighting for the programs and services that help our children and families thrive, especially as they continue to face rising costs of living.
Head Start is more than just a program, it is a lifeline for families seeking a pathway out of poverty and a central pillar of the ECE workforce.