UCS Head Start Grant Will benefit 48 infants and toddlers in Bennington County VT

[Donkees]

[font color="gray"]Left, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, middle, UCS executive director Lorna Mattern and right, Betsy Rathbun-Gunn, Director of Childhood Services for UCS. In a joint statement, the Vermont congressional delegation - Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Rep. Peter Welch (D) - welcomed the grant.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY UNITED COUNSELING SERVICE[/font]

March 20, 2017

Excerpt:

BENNINGTON — In an effort to expand education services to children, a $1.2 million grant has been awarded to United Counseling Service.

It was announced by Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch that the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant would broaden high quality learning opportunities for 48 vulnerable infants and toddlers in Bennington County, according to a statement released Monday.

The grant was made available from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.

Funds will support comprehensive child care to low-income infants, toddlers and their families to prepare the children for transition into Head Start and preschool. Betsy Rathbun-Gunn,director of childhood services for UCS said there are 32 new slots and 16 enhanced.

The congressional dignitaries wrote in the announcement: "There has never been a more important time to invest in our children and in our families. Head Start was designed to help break the cycle of poverty, and Vermonters know that Head Start and Early Head Start are truly changing lives. This award to Bennington County United Counseling Service will help build regional partnerships to expand opportunities for some of our most at-risk children. As Republicans in Washington call for drastic cuts to anti-poverty programs, this award is a needed reminder of the importance of these efforts."

Sanders visited Mount Anthony Union High School on Friday and took the time to welcome UCS staff and the grant, said Rathbun-Gunn.

"It was something I knew Sanders knew was desperately needed in Benington," Rathbun-Gunn said. "It was highly competitive. We were two out of all of New England. There were 40 grants we were competing for and limited dollars. We're very pleased we were selected for the competitive funding."

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