Summit County Head Start employees say they remain hopeful as their regional office remains open amid federally mandated closure of regional offices across the country serving areas around Boston, Seattle and Chicago.

Locals running the program in Summit County say there’s been no indication that the regional office it falls under will be closing, but if it does, there’s local safety nets to ensure support doesn’t entirely disappear. 

The federally funded Head Start program, born out of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty” in 1965, has long had the same function: provide resources for children and low-income families that need it most. 

Summit County’s Head Start program is nearly 23 years old and is wrapped into a larger Dillon-based organization, Early Childhood Options. Executive director Catherine Schaaf said the program serves 60 children in Summit County from 0-5 years old. She said those eligible to participate must meet requirements including an income below or within 100-130% of federal poverty guidelines, and there’s certain cases involving children with diagnosed disabilities who qualify. 

Head Start’s programming is used in Summit County preschools, including Summit School District, Summit County Preschool, Lake Dillon Preschool, Wildflower Nature School and Carriage House, and extends outside of school through support for families.

“It’s not just early education, it’s critical child care that enables low-income parents to maintain employment,” she said “Without it, many would be forced to reduce hours or leave the workforce entirely, which sends families deeper into poverty.” 

Summit County’s Head Start program falls under the umbrella of Head Start’s Region 8, which serves Colorado and surrounding states. It is one of the seven Head Start Regional offices that dodged closures. Schaaf said there’s been no indication from the regional office regarding a closure, and their specialists are avoiding jumping to conclusions amid the “looming threats” around Head Start. 

USA Today recently reported President Trump’s most recent budget proposal looked to eliminate Head Start funding entirely.

Early Childcare Options’ Head Start program funding for 2025 is $1.1 million. Not only does this go toward programming in schools and for childcare, it helps connect families to healthcare, nutrition, and job training to create long-term stability and a pathway out of poverty. In preschools, the presence of the program creates a higher standard for qualifications and training of educators and requires a higher teacher-to-student-ratio than the state does.

Schaaf said, if the federal program were to be cut, it would have impacts locally that could result in adjustments to programming, but that’s not currently on the table.

“Eliminating Head Start funding would take an act of Congress. … I think that what’s important with Head Start — is it’s always been bipartisan and has support from both sides,” she said.

She said Early Childhood Options’ services for children and families don’t solely rely on that federal funding. The program has funding streams from the state, local municipalities and the Summit Foundation. She said this makes the organization unique in that it has a local safety net backed by local elected officials who are willing to be part of solutions to ensure essential services don’t fall through.

Schaaf said her organization hasn’t made any program adjustments or cuts yet, but they’re “on the brink of it.”

“In terms of (childcare tuition assistance), I think we’re thinking of that program as a whole, like the ‘what-ifs’ and considering what is the budget for Head Start, and if we have to absorb that into our other programs,” she said.

She said one of Head Start’s selling points is the return on investment rate. The National Head Start organization estimates the return on investment rate is 13%, and every dollar spent can yield $7 in savings for the community. She said the impacts are tangible, and studies show that Head Start participants are more likely to graduate, stay out of the criminal justice system and find stable employment.

Lake Dillon Preschool executive director Katie Bunnelle, whose school is a participant in the Head Start program, said at the root of the program is equal opportunity learning. It opens doors to resources that would have been largely unattainable otherwise, enabling schools to provide what she describes to be an “incredible education at no cost.” Teacher Nicki Kaiser said many of the students in the program are primary Spanish speakers and the resources help break down language barriers and provide a better bridge to equal access to education.

Schaaf said she wants people to know “we’re on it” and her organization will continue to support the families that need it while fighting to keep Head Start alive.