ARRA funds supporting families

Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds are creating jobs in the early learning sector — many of them full-time, with benefits — while adding services for about 700 of Minnesota’s most at-risk families. The remarks came from Gayle Kelly, Minnesota Head Start Association executive director, speaking before the House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division Feb. 9.

Minnesota received $26.1 million in ARRA appropriations designated for child care assistance subsidies and a sliding fee program, quality improvements such as the Parent Aware pilot rating system and training and resources for caregivers. The money must be spent by Sept. 30, 2010. Of the total, $15.7 million is for quality improvements and expansion of Head Start and Early Head Start programs, said Kelly, who estimated ARRA funds would generate 163 new Head Start jobs. Three tribal Head Start programs have received funding apart from the state appropriation.

Beyond the numbers are vulnerable children and struggling parents.

Kraig Gratke described the fund’s impact on programs he runs as Early Head Start manager with Tri-County Community Action, which serves Morrison, Todd and Crow Wing counties.

Of the young parents Gratke’s agency serves, 85 percent experience postpartum or prenatal depression, 70 percent “have drug use of some type,” 50 percent have been sexually assaulted and 50 percent are technically homeless, he said.

“What we’re seeing in our families with our children coming out of these homes, there’s a lot of attachment and bonding issues,” Gratke said. “There’s a lot of people yelling. There’s a lot of negative stuff going on in these environments.”

With ARRA grants, Tri-County’s Early Head Start will add 64 new spaces to the 130 that exist, and 19 new teachers will serve babies and parents with child care including two new centers, home visits nearly once a week and parent support groups, including one for teenage fathers.

“Here at the Legislature, we don’t always get a slice of reality, and that was one of them,” said Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood), chairwoman of the House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division.