Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2023
Contact:
Brett Kleiman (Deputy Press Secretary):
brett_kleiman@warnock.senate.gov
Senators Reverend Warnock, Braun Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Childcare Workforce, Increase Access to Early Head Start Programs
Today, Senators Reverend Warnock and Mike Braun introduced the bipartisan HEADWAY Act, which would address staffing shortages in the child care workforce by allowing Early Head Start classroom teachers to teach and earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential simultaneously
This bill will help pave the way for greater hiring flexibility, attract more qualified candidates to the profession, and ensure that Early Head Start classrooms are fully staffed—strengthening the nation’s child care infrastructure
As of February 2023, 19% of Early Head Start and Early Head Start staff positions remained vacant nationwide
ICYMI from the Savannah Morning News in August: “Warnock tours Head Start classrooms ahead of push for more student teachers”
Senator Reverend Warnock: “I’m so excited to introduce my bipartisan HEADWAY Act, a bill I’m offering with my partner, Senator Mike Braun, that will help strengthen our childcare workforce. This is good public policy for Georgia and the nation, and I’m determined to get this passed”
In August, Senator Reverend Warnock helps a young Georgian tie his shoes at Savannah’s Early Head Start facility
Click here for a one-pager on the HEADWAY Act
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), one of only two Head Start alumna to ever serve in the Senate, along with Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), introduced the bipartisan HEADWAY Act (Head Start Education and Development Workforce Advancement and Yield Act. The bill would address early child care workforce shortages by allowing Early Head Start classroom teachers to teach and earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential simultaneously. The HEADWAY Act will help pave the way for greater hiring flexibility, attract more qualified candidates to the profession of early childhood education, and ensure that Early Head Start classrooms are fully staffed. Increasing the number of teachers in classrooms will enable Early Head Start to have more slots available to children from vulnerable families, as the program requires a certain ratio of teachers to students. The HEADWAY Act will allow Head Start to fulfill its commitment to providing high-quality, early childhood education for children from vulnerable families, laying the foundation for their future success. The HEADWAY Act will support Early Head Start learning professionals, and give program directors the flexibility they need to respond to employment trends, while still maintaining the high standards and professionalization of the field.
“As a proud Head Start alumnus, I know the foundations I learned in Savannah helped pave the way for a kid like me to go from living in public housing to becoming a United States Senator,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “I’ve seen how hard it is for hardworking Georgia families to get affordable, quality child care, partly because of the lack of childcare professionals in their communities–which puts a strain on parents and hurts our economy. And as the father of two young kids, I know how crucial education in those formative years is to their continued growth. That’s why I’m so excited to introduce my bipartisan HEADWAY Act, a bill I’m offering with my partner, Senator Mike Braun, that will help strengthen our childcare workforce. This is good public policy for Georgia and the nation, and I’m determined to get this passed.”
“One of the top concerns I hear from Hoosier families is the challenge of finding affordable, high-quality childcare, which limits a parent’s participation in the workforce. This bipartisan legislation I am introducing with Sen. Warnock will help address the workforce shortages in childcare by creating flexibility and opportunity for childcare professionals, without increasing government spending,” said Senator Mike Braun.
In August, Senator Warnock returned to his hometown of Savannah, Georgia to tour Early Head Start classrooms at the Economic Opportunity Authority (EOA) for Savannah-Chatham County and hear from local early learning leaders about the workforce shortages impacting this critical early education program serving low-income families and their children.
Early Head Start serves infants, toddlers, and pregnant women, catering to children from birth to age three. This program emphasizes early intervention and prenatal care, providing high-quality early learning experiences for young children in community centers or through home visits. Early Head Start offers a range of services, such as child development activities, health screenings, nutrition support, and family engagement, to support the needs of both children and expectant mothers. According to the Department of Health and Human Services: “Children enrolled in Head Start programs are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college; have improved social, emotional, and behavioral development; and are better prepared to be parents themselves.
Post-pandemic staffing shortages have significantly hindered the ability of Early Head Start classrooms to serve at-risk children from birth through age two. A September 2022 survey by the National Head Start Association revealed that 77% of respondents reported higher-than-usual staff vacancies, with 66% noting a lack of candidates with the required qualifications. As of February 2023, 19% of Early Head Start and Early Head Start staff positions remained vacant nationwide. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that childcare workforce numbers are still well below pre-pandemic levels.
Senator Warnock’s HEADWAY Act is endorsed by the National Head Start Association and the Georgia Head Start Association.
“The HEADWAY Act is designed to empower Head Start to prioritize the professional development of our people and invest in their growth. By offering a career stepping stone, we can improve Early Head Start’s capacity to serve and ensure we remain competitive and adaptable in an ever-changing workforce market. Ultimately, it will pave the way to a brighter future where children and families in Early Head Start have the opportunity to flourish and the early childhood education profession to thrive. We applaud Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock—a proud Head Start alumnus—for his commitment to supporting Head Start and Early Head Start, and for his belief in the potential of our people to bring Head Start to new heights,” said National Head Start Association Executive Director Yasmina Vinci.
“By investing in professional mentorships for our youngest learners we’re not just building a brighter future- we’re illuminating the path to success for generations to come,” said Georgia Head Start Association Executive Officer Juanita Yancey.
Bill text can be found here. A one-pager can be found here.
Key aspects of the bill are described below:
- Permit some Early Head Start classroom teachers to be in the process of earning their CDA credential while retaining the requirement that at least one teacher in every classroom is fully credentialed with at least a CDA.
- Require mentorship within the program to facilitate and ensure continued progress toward earning the CDA.
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Title and affiliation are provided for identification purposes only. A pastor and social justice advocate, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock was elected to the United States Senate in 2021 and reelected for a full term in 2022. The Senator serves on the Senate Agriculture, Banking, and Commerce committees, as well as the Senate Aging Committee.
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Office of Head Start (OHS) at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is awarding $1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funds to Head Start programs nationwide. These funds will help more than 1,500 local Head Start programs build back to fully operational, in-person comprehensive services this fall. This funding comes right in time for summer programming for nearly one third of Head Start programs across the country, and also supports vaccination of Head Start staff and families.
“This is a critical investment to support our children’s health and wellbeing in communities nationwide,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we can continue to provide and expand services that so many American families need right now to tackle the pandemic’s impact. These funds from the American Rescue Plan Act will reach more eligible families, provide more comprehensive services, and support Head Start facilities as they begin providing in-person services again.”
On Wednesday, the Secretary toured the Martha’s Table Head Start summer program in Washington, D.C. Supported by ARP funding, Martha’s Table is helping children and their families be prepared for school in the fall by hosting a seven-week summer Head Start program. The program will support learning through a curriculum based on children’s interests and needs, field trips and other multisensory opportunities. It will also connect families with access to healthy food and other community engagement programs.
“ARP funds are supporting vaccination for staff and families, which enable the return to in-person programming across the range of services offered by Head Start grantees.” said Katie Hamm, the deputy assistant secretary for Early Childhood Development at ACF. “Head Start programs provide culturally appropriate vaccination information and dialogue with their Head Start families. Several agencies have worked with their local health departments to become vaccination sites, supporting vaccination within the whole community.”
“Head Start programs are taking action now to prepare themselves, and children and families, for the fall,” said Dr. Bernadine Futrell, director of OHS. “We are coming together as a Head Start community to build back to in-person services through our Head Start Forward campaign, because we know that we can do more when we come together than we can do on our own.”
The goal of the Head Start Forward campaign is to support grantees in reaching more children and families and moving toward fully in-person comprehensive services as local health conditions allow. Through the Head Start Forward campaign, OHS will provide guidance, resources, and considerations for program planning to reach more children and families and provide in-person comprehensive services.
Head Start programs support children’s growth in a positive learning environment through a variety of services, which include early learning and development, health, and family economic mobility and well-being. Read some stories about how Head Start programs are using ARP funds to build back better online here: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.
Press Release:
June 23, 2021
Contact: gaheadstartassociation@gmail.com
Juanita Yancey, Executive Officer
Tanya Thomas, President
Susie Wilcher, Issues and Advocacy Chairperson
Fiscal Year 2020-2021 American Rescue Plan fund increase for Head Start was signed into public law 117-2 by President Biden. The American Rescue Plan act was signed by the President on March 11, 2021. The Act providing $1B for Head Start and Early Head Start was a significant increase that offsets Programs original base funding and will assist Programs in making one-time investments to best support the needs of children, families, and staff. Agencies use of the one-time funds will meet both short- and long-term needs
and determine whether purchasing, leasing, or contracting for services is more prudent. Other uses of funding will include but will not be limited to: Program enrollment, recruitment, additional weeks programming, family support, wellness and mental health support for staff, COVID vaccination support and professional development for staff.
McIntosh Trail Early Childhood Development Council was able to use American Rescue funds to improve the ventilation and air quality in Head Start facilities. Funds were also used to purchase COVID19 Personal Protection Equipment and needed playground equipment and materials.
“Easter Seals North Georgia, Inc. is grateful to receive grant funding awarded through the American Rescue Plan. This investment will allow our organization to continue to support our staff, children, and families during this unprecedented time by allowing for extended year programming, facility safety upgrades, staff training and wellness supports, along with other components
Susie Wilcher, Executive Director for The Washington County NBPW Club supported her program by using ARP funds to expand Head Start services through summer programming; purchased a bus and van for transportation purposes; ARP funds can be expended through March 2023. Dr. Tanya Thomas, Executive Director for Coastal Plain Area EOA used ARP funds for an Open Trauma Informed Forum and to assist families experiencing job losses due to the COVID pandemic with Small Business Training. The training provided education and support from certified public accountants and attorneys with knowledge and expertise to help families interested in securing SBA loans.
“We greatly appreciate the opportunity for funding to benefit children and families”- Candace Fleming, Early Head Start Administrator- McIntosh Trail Early Childhood Development Council.
https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-announces-funding-local-head-start-programs
