Natalie Weber / Houston Public Media
The Houston-area nonprofit BakerRipley is increasing its “Head Begin” and “Early Head Begin” packages in Fort Bend County, opening two new facilities within the Missouri Metropolis space inside the final yr.
They’re federally funded packages that present free early childhood schooling for low-income households with infants and kids as much as 5 years previous.
In Fort Bend County, southwest of Houston, there are 511 kids enrolled in BakerRipley’s Head Begin program, which serves kids between ages 3-5. One other 176 Fort Bend kids are enrolled in its Early Head Begin packages, which deal with infants and toddlers.
BakerRipley spokesperson Sucre Woodley stated the nonprofit expanded its packages in Fort Bend in response to a rising want as extra lower-income households transfer out to the suburbs.
“It’s actually vital that the providers comparable to Head Begin be positioned a lot nearer to the place individuals reside and the place they want it,” she stated.
Based on the U.S. Census Bureau, about 8.5 % of Fort Bend County residents reside under the poverty line.
As of 2022, one other 27% % of the county’s residents didn’t make sufficient cash to cowl primary residing prices, regardless of incomes greater than the poverty line, in response to a report from United Manner.
In the meantime, the typical month-to-month price of daycare for one little one in Fort Bend County is round $805, in response to the Financial Coverage Institute.
Natalie Weber / Houston Public Media
Virginia Stevens, the director of kid improvement providers for BakerRipley, stated mother and father do not must pay something out of pocket for this system, which covers the prices of things comparable to diapers and meals for youngsters throughout the day.
“We offer sources, classroom provides, every part wanted for the kid to succeed in addition to their household,” she stated.
These sources embrace rental and utility help, free tax preparation, entrepreneur teaching and parenting lessons for households.
The Head Begin program was began below President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. Nevertheless, it might face scrutiny below the Trump administration. Some facilities have already reported difficulties accessing funds after the Trump administration froze federal grant funding – a transfer that was halted by a federal courtroom and later rescinded.
BakerRipley lately renewed its 5-year grant for its Head Begin packages. The nonprofit receives greater than $10 million for its six Head Begin facilities in Fort Bend County.
Woodley stated non-public donors have reached out to ask how they’ll help BakerRipley’s early schooling efforts.
“We’re open to different funding sources, and we are going to proceed to function simply as we now have for a lot of, a few years,” she stated.
Open enrollment for the nonprofit’s Head Begin packages started this week, with dozens of openings on the Missouri Metropolis places. Households can study extra about this system and enroll by visiting BakerRipley’s web site.
