Overview
- Delayed federal grants have triggered full or partial closures in 18 states, with programs serving about 65,000 children lacking funds and roughly 8,000 already affected by shutdowns.
- Emergency measures include a $20 million state advance in Massachusetts, an $8 million bridge loan for major Georgia providers, a 60-day state plan in Oregon, and district funds in parts of Washington state.
- East Coast Migrant Head Start Project suspended services across several southern states, leaving about 1,200 children without care and furloughing staff, including more than 800 affected in Florida.
- In Chicago, nearly 14,000 children are enrolled in Head Start, and three providers expecting Dec. 1 grants warn of disruptions if federal payments do not resume.
- Providers say families are losing meals, health screenings and referrals as pressures from SNAP, WIC and Medicaid interruptions deepen the strain.