The Woodbury County Community Action Agency in Sioux City will receive $621,026 to continue its Early Head Start program. The Southeast Iowa Community Action Organization, Inc., in Burlington, will receive $891,877 for head start programs. The funding will support programs that are year-round for part of the day, as well as those for the handicapped.
"Head Start has a long tradition of delivering high quality services that foster healthy development in low-income children. This funding will help these programs continue to provide important child care services to residents in these areas," Grassley said.
Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development programs that serve children up to age five, pregnant women and their families. The programs focus on increasing the school readiness of children and young children in low-income families.
United Action for Youth in Iowa City will receive $88,657 to better serve runaway and homeless youth. United Action for Youth will receive this funding through the Basic Centers Program, which provides assistance for community-based programs that meet the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families.
Foundation 2 in Cedar Rapids will also receive a Basic Centers Program grant for $85,300. This is in addition to a $100,000 Street Outreach Program grant that Foundation 2 received in August, which supports outreach efforts designed to build relationships between staff and street youth.
"We need to make sure that runaway and homeless youth are adequately cared for and have the opportunity to overcome their difficult circumstances," Grassley said. "I'm glad that these programs will receive this federal assistance to support their efforts to serve Iowa's youth who are in need."