MOSES LAKE — Parents and families in Moses Lake who depend on Head Start for childcare are worried they might soon have to find alternative childcare if the government shutdown doesn’t end.
The Head Start Program in Moses Lake has less than two weeks of funding remaining to to keep its childcare program open, which serves more than 100 families in Grant County. 75 kids are currently enrolled in it’s Head Start preschool program.
Without a notice of award from the federal government, the program will be forced to shut down operations.
“On the 14th, if we don’t have a notice of award, we would have to close our building,” said Sally Gundry, executive director of Family Services of Grant County.
The government shutdown has left federal agencies unable to process and approve grants, leaving the Head Start program in limbo despite being scheduled to receive funding this month. The program typically relies on federal funding to provide childcare and educational services to low-income families.
If the shutdown forces closure, multiple employees would be placed on unemployment, creating a ripple effect throughout the community.
“If the funding is not forthcoming by the 14th, we would put the majority – 60 of our employees – on unemployment,” Gundry said.
The potential closure would create significant hardships for working parents who depend on the program for childcare. Many parents use Head Start services while they work, and losing access could jeopardize their employment.
“Our parents, the majority of them, many are employed and they use us as childcare. Should there be a disruption in service, they could be without childcare and they could lose their jobs,” Gundry explained.
The impact extends beyond childcare services. Many children in the program also receive food assistance and free meals at the facility. If the program closes, families would face additional financial pressure to provide meals for their children.
“Without the services of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infant and Children), and with those programs in jeopardy, they might not have the food or the formula readily available to feed their children,” Gundry said.
Gundry, along with parents and children in the program, remains hopeful that Congress will resolve the government shutdown before the November 14 deadline. However, with each passing day, the situation becomes more critical for the families who depend on these essential services.
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