FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, Oct. 7, 2005
Contact: Jane Norris
(202) 401-9215
ACF Awards Texas Early Learning Funding for Hurricane Evacuees
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced nearly $100,000 in special child care funds to assist families from Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, who were evacuated because of the hurricanes and are now living in rural counties in Texas.
“These funds for child care and early learning services will provide help to evacuated children and families from the Gulf region who are now living in rural Texas,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D.
Under this award, the South Plains Early Childhood Council in Levelland, Texas, will operate a project covering 15 rural counties in Texas for 12 months to assist young children and their families who have been evacuated from Mississippi, Louisiana and other parts of Texas due to the recent hurricanes.
The grant will provide early learning opportunities, early literacy activities and mental health support to children under the age of five years, their parents or guardians, caregivers and child care providers. Young children currently residing in shelters will receive supplemental supportive educational and social activities from staff trained in early childhood development. Services for young children and their parents or guardians will also pay attention to their mental health needs in order to promote effective parenting and support the children’s social and emotional development.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news