WASHINGTON – In the wake of the sudden shutdown of the Sullivan County Head Start program, US Senator Charles Schumer has joined the effort to identify a new operator for the childcare and education program.
The senator has written to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra calling on the feds to cut through red tape and work with local officials to identify new care and develop a long-term solution for Sullivan families.
“Working parents who are enrolled in Head Start should not be confronted with a choice between working their job that puts food on the table or having to watch their toddler after school,” Schumer said.
County Legislature Chairwoman Nadia Rajsz said there are now three county officials on Head Start’s board and “with Senator Schumer’s guidance and assistance, we aim to return this crucial service to Sullivan County residents as quickly as possible.”
To date, there has been no public explanation as to why the existing program closed down abruptly.
