What is in the ARP?
In addition to Head Start funding, this legislation includes critical supports with the potential to lift millions of families out of poverty.
Impact on Head Start
The legislation includes key takeaways not only for program leaders, but also for staff working with families and caregivers.
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The American Rescue Plan
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) into law. The sweeping $1.9 trillion legislation has the potential to lift millions of children and families out of poverty. Through expanded access to benefits and increased direct support, the ARP will have a ripple effect throughout the communities that Head Start serves.
As trusted partners of so many families, Head Start has the opportunity to build awareness and leverage policy changes to ensure the families it serves are best positioned to succeed through access to these new and expanded supports. Provisions in the law are designed to lessen the economic impact of the pandemic on children and families, but they also go beyond that. There will be effects to tax credits for parents and legal guardians, expanded access to health coverage, and much, much more!
How does it support Head Start families and communities?
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) includes $1 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start, among many other key provisions to address the devastating impact of COVID-19.
The additional funding for Head Start will provide essential support for local programs’ continued delivery of safe, high-quality services to children and families from at-risk backgrounds.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Head Start has continually adapted to meet the needs of our nation's children and families safely, and Head Start’s inclusion in the ARP enables local programs to support lasting change in Congress and the administration’s efforts to eradicate childhood poverty.
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Resources for the Head Start Community
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Making Head Start part of the COVID-19 relief response... lobbying Congress for more funding... influencing public opinion through the media. Every day, in different ways, the Dollar per Child campaign enables NHSA to achieve Head Start's advocacy goals.