Bending the Arc

Head Start programs across the country focus on promoting the school readiness of children ages 3 and 4 by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. They provide a learning environment that supports a child’s growth in language and literacy, general knowledge, physical development, and health. In Fond du Lac County, the program currently serves 202 children with locations in Fond du Lac, North Fond du Lac, Markesan, and Ripon.

Head Start relies on federal funding, but in a recent interview with Greg Stensland on Radio Plus, the director of Fond du Lac’s Head Start program, April Mullins-Datko, reported the program had been locked out of their federal funding last month. They were not reimbursed for January, but remained open because they had a line of credit and the board of directors is committed to keeping the organization open as long as possible. Without federal funding, Head Start programs would have some very tough choices to make. Closing Head Start will not only affect the children and families, but would impact 75 staff.

In an email to ADVOCAP’s Executive Director on February 26, 2025, Tanya Marcoe reported that funds that were due to their Head Start program were finally released after a delay. Funds that were hitting their account within 48 hours of submitting a request are now taking 7-10 days. While they are adjusting to this change, the agency is still very fearful of what cuts are coming. Staff are being fired at the federal level. Project 2025 implies that Head Start programs will be cut out of the budget completely.

93% of Head Start parents in Fond du Lac are working or in school. If Head Start were cut from the federal budget, it would displace parents from the workforce because there is either not enough childcare available or they could not afford it. The ripple effect would have a devastating outcome on our community, and communities across the country in similar situations.

When asked about the matter in a radio interview with Greg Stensland last week, Wisconsin Representative Glenn Grothman stated he believes Head Start is not intended for any cuts. However, the current budget resolution that recently passed the House, and Grothman voted to approve, is calling for $2 trillion dollars in cuts to programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and ACF (Administration for Children and Families) programs. ADVOCAP and others now wait to see what the Senate will do and if ACF will pull their cuts from Head Start.

Read bipartisan information about the bill

Head Start and the families they serve are asking for our help. Please consider calling Representative Grothman, Senator Johnson, or the congressmen and women in your states and ask them to save and protect Head Start programs from the chopping block. 

Call and call often.  Tell Congress to prioritize families and protect safety net programs in the budget resolution.

For Wisconsinites, call Senator Johnson at 202-224-5323. Senator Baldwin’s direct line is 202-224-5653. To reach Representative Grothman, call 202-225-2476. For all other states, you can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to be transferred to whichever office you need. Or use https://myreps.datamade.us/ to search by address.

I cannot emphasize the importance of making regular calls, even once a day, about the issues that are most important to you. These cuts will affect nearly every program we can imagine, many of which you are currently in ministry with, or have been involved with at some point in your life. Imagine a country without Medicaid? In Wisconsin alone, there are more than 1.2 million Medicaid recipients! A call only takes 1-2 minutes. All comments and concerns are recorded, so know that you have the power to make a potential difference. It’s time for all hands on deck!

In the words of Pope Francis, “Those services which society offers to its citizens are not a type of alms, but rather a genuine ‘social debt’ with respect to the institution of the family, which is foundational and which contributes to the common good.”