YAKIMA VALLEY, Wash. – Inspire Development Centers, which have been providing educational resources to low-income rural families for more than 40 years, are facing a funding challenge. The centers in Yakima Valley are running out of federal funding and might not receive more.
Seven Inspire Development Centers, mainly located in the valley, have paused their Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This pause affects families who rely on these programs for educational, medical and social support.
In the 25 centers operated by Inspire Development, the majority of children are served through federal programs like Head Start, Early Head Start and the seasonal Head Start program. “In the 25 centers that we operate, the majority of the children we serve are through federal programs Head Start, Early Head Start and the seasonal Head Start program with over 2,200 children served. The state program that we operate, ECEAP, is about 722 children,” said CEO Jorge Castillo.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approves funding for Head Start on a five-year cycle. The final year of the current contract began last November, and as of now, there has been no communication from the government regarding the continuation of funding.
“There has been no clear communication on what has caused the delay, and more importantly, no assurance that it is on its way,” said Castillo. Without this funding, over 400 preschool students and 70 staff members in the Lower Yakima Valley are already feeling the impact.
Head Start provides more than just a curriculum for young children. “They also get a wraparound service. And they are able to detect, we are able to detect, developmental delays with children. And therefore we can begin to address those issues with families and the children early on,” explained Castillo.
Families losing access to Head Start and Early Head Start will need to check eligibility for state-funded programs, though many will likely not qualify. “Without Head Start, in the long run. You’re talking, I think higher levels of poverty, stress on families and children. And I think you have an increased burden on other social services in the community,” warned Castillo.
Despite some minor funding delays in the past, this situation marks the first time services have had to be paused. Castillo remains optimistic about resolving the funding issue.
