COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Thousands of Ohioans could go without childcare as federal money runs out for some Head Start programs, which provide food and childcare for low-income families.
“The fallout is going to be so much greater than they even know,” Carla Womack, parent, family and community engagement manager with Scioto County’s Head Start program, said. “I think it’s going to affect crime, it’s going to affect hunger, it’s going to affect child abuse. I don’t think they thought that far.”
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Womack is one of 150 Head Start employees who had their first day being furloughed on Monday. Seven of Ohio’s 59 programs have run out of federal funds, forcing immediate closures for two programs and leaving five programs temporarily afloat through donations and reserves. See previous coverage of Ohio’s Head Start programs in the video player above.
Ohio has the fourth-most students affected by Head Start closures in the nation, with 3,738 preschoolers going without childcare if federal appropriations do not resume soon. Already, 600 students were unable to attend their Head Start programs this week, with closures in Scioto and Highland counties…