Westchester, Rockland Head Start Programs to Suffer; Leaders Fight Back

In the wake of sequestration, a handful of early education services in the Lower Hudson Valley are expected to diminish as money becomes tighter.

The far-reaching federal budget cuts—enacted in early March—will strip down the Head Start programs in Westchester and Rockland. Among them is the Westchester Community Opportunity Program (WestCOP), a non-profit that operates more than 30 Head Start programs in the region—and will now work within the confines of a $800,000 budget cut.

The slash will also bring layoffs, officials said.

Family Services of Westchester, which runs Head Start in White Plains, will be forced to shutter a classroom, and also contend with layoffs and leaner programing.

Head Start of Rockland will eliminate its summer program.

The forced cut-backs were hailed as "senseless" Friday afternoon by congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), who spoke in Port Chester and was flanked by a number of Head Start employees.

"These cuts aren’t just abstract projections," Lowey said. "They have real consequences for children and working families right here in Westchester and Rockland Counties. We need to end these senseless cuts."

Lowey's posse spoke, as well, spotlighting the importance of the suffering programs.

"It is so sad that the most vulnerable among us, including children and working families, are bearing the brunt of these cuts," said Ellen Farrar, Head Start Director at WestCOP. "These cuts will negatively affect the lives of many children and families who rely on Early Head Start and Head Start programs in Westchester County, as well as our organization’s hard-working staff."

"Head Start of Rockland serves 1,000 of the most vulnerable children in Rockland County every year," added Ouida Foster-Toutebon, Executive Director of Head Start of Rockland.

New York State as a whole is expected to lose $26 million in funding for Head Start as a result of sequestration.