“It will be catastrophic”: Two Wisconsin Head Start programs closing because of government shutdown, and more are in jeopardy

DODGEVILLE, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – Two Head Start programs in Wisconsin are closing their doors in November because of the government shutdown, leaving low-income families scrambling.

What is Head Start, and who does it serve?

The Head Start program began in 1965 as a summer camp. It was part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty”, initiatives to give economically disadvantaged families more opportunities. 

Now, there are thousands of Head Start locations across the country. They provide early childhood education for children from low-income families. The program is unique because it gives families access to other resources: it provides health screenings, dental care, and other support to connect families with services they may need.

To qualify for the program, families must make less than 130% of the federal poverty line. For a family of four, that means the parents would be making $41,795 per year or less. Other kids qualify too, like those in foster care, facing homelessness, or using SNAP. 

Head Start has served almost 40 million American children since its inception. The majority of funding comes from the federal government.

Head Start impacts children and parents the most, but it has wide ripple effects

Data shows the program works. Studies have shown children who attend Head Start make progress in language, literacy and math; have stronger cognitive social and emotional skills; and are 93% less likely to end up in foster care. One study found that Head Start programs provide a 13% return on investment. 

“It has substantial beneficial impacts on (a) health and the quality of life, (b) the labor incomes of participants, (c) crime, (d) education, and (e) the labor income of the mothers of the participants through subsidizing their childcare,” reads one study from researchers at the University of Chicago. 

Those impacts last far beyond when children have outgrown the program at about age 5. Studies have shown Head Start kids are more likely to graduate high school and go to college. Some data shows Head Start graduates are less likely to commit crimes as adults.

Every year, about 15,000 Wisconsin families rely on Head Start for child care and access to other resources. 

“They’re predominantly working families in our community,” said Jennie Mauer, executive director of the Wisconsin Head Start Association. “They’re working in the retail sector, they’re working in hospitality, they’re working in our hospitals. They’re part of the foundation of our economy … Head Start is a critical part of our state, and our communities’ infrastructure.” 

Nine Wisconsin Head Start locations shutting down November 3

The Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program operates nine Head Start locations in Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland counties. Their funding was set to renew on November 1. They won’t be getting that money because of the federal government shutdown. 

Without money to pay their bills, and their staff, those nine centers will close by Monday, November 3. That leaves more than 100 children without their safe space to grow and learn, and low-income parents without reliable child care so they can work. 

“Parents do their best to find safe places for their children, but we know that what often ends up happening is that children are shuttled between lots of different care situations … oftentimes, children get watched by other children,” Mauer said. “Families get increasingly desperate when they’re trying to make things work.” 

SWCAP’s 34 staff members will be out of work. 

Sheboygan Head Start to shut down November 14

In Sheboygan, the Head Start program is run by the Sheboygan Human Rights Association. Their program was also supposed to get renewal funding from the federal government on November 1. That money won’t come during the federal government shutdown. 

Staff in Sheboygan have found funding from the state that will help them stay open two more weeks. However, that money will run out. Now they’re scheduled to close on November 14 if the federal government is still shut down. 

There are 172 children in Sheboygan Head Start programs who will lose their daily community. Nearly 50 staff members will be without paychecks. 

Together, that means about 300 children will be without care in November. 

Families are losing their child care and access to food at the same time

For kids who qualify, Head Start may be their best opportunity for reliable access to nutritious meals. A vast majority of families who are eligible for Head Start also receive SNAP benefits.

The SNAP program is also running out November 1 because of the federal government shutdown. In Wisconsin, it’s called FoodShare.

Mauer said losing their child care makes it tougher for parents to go to work. On top of that, they need the work even more than they did before to feed their families, because they’re also losing their SNAP benefits. 

“For all families, and particularly low-income families, the budget is tight. There is not a lot of room for flex, and you need to go to work,” she said. “These families are also facing additional hits with the loss of SNAP funding. So families are really being put in impossible positions. Do they pay their rent? Do they put food on the table? Maybe they have medical needs … this is really going to be crushing.” 

“Catastrophic”: If the shutdown continues into December, 1,100 more Wisconsin kids could lose Head Start  

Head Start contract renewals are scattered throughout the year. That means some programs expect their funding each month. Both SWCAP and the Sheboygan Human Rights Association were due for renewal in November. 

Mauer said there are three Head Start programs in Wisconsin that are due for renewal in December. If the federal government shutdown continues, their organizations will not receive funding on December 1 as expected. That would mean about 1,100 more Wisconsin children could lose their Head Start programs. 

“I’m having conversations with them now to say it’s almost Halloween, what are your plans? We need to start thinking about this,” Mauer said. “If this continues, what are your contingency plans? We certainly hope the government will come to its senses and figure out a solution forward that keeps the whole family in mind. We hope we will not come to that point, because it will be catastrophic.” 

The Trump administration has already closed some Head Start regional offices. Across the country, there are 130 Head Start programs that will not get their November 1 payments. That impacts more than 56,000 children.