More than $7 million in federal funding is headed to Western Illinois to bolster early childhood education. Congressman Eric Sorensen announced grants for the Rock Island-Milan School District, SAL Family and Community Services, and Project NOW, Inc., all supporting Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Leaders say this funding will ensure vital services for local families, including high-quality early education, health screenings, and family advocacy. Congressman Sorensen praised the work being done in the district and emphasized the importance of investing in early education for long-term community benefits. This funding aims to give children across Illinois’ 17th District the opportunity to succeed from the start.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow, learn, and succeed,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen. “Head Start helps make that possible by giving children and families the support they need from the very beginning. I’ve visited both SAL Family and Community Services and Project NOW, and I’ve seen firsthand the incredible work they do to lift up kids in our communities. These investments will make a real difference for families across our district.”
“We are incredibly grateful for Congressman Sorensen’s advocacy to help secure continued federal funding of Early Head Start, both in his visit to our Milan Skip-a-Long center and through his support in Congress,” said Marcy Mendenhall, CEO of SAL Community Services. “This secured funding means there will be no disruption to the essential services for 168 SAL Community Services families across the Quad Cities. SAL’s Early Head Start goes beyond high-quality childcare – it provides necessary healthcare and family advocacy to support our families at every level.”
“We are deeply appreciative of the support and ongoing commitment of ensuring every child has access and opportunity to quality education and services; both of which Head Start provides,” said President/CEO of Project NOW, Dr. Dwight Ford. “It takes personal responsibilities, including confronting ignorance concerning Head Start, public will to promote quality education, and public policy to ensure funding. Head Start is a priority and not an afterthought. Early childhood education matters and the investment will yield a lifetime of return.”
