NORWICH – The Chenango County Head Start and Early Head Start Program, administered through Opportunities for Chenango, is slated for $1.3 million in federal grants to continue its purpose of serving children and their families throughout the county.

An official announcement was made by U.S. Congressman Richard Hanna this week. The recent allocation is actually the second installment of a larger $2.6 million grant awarded to Head Start in 2014. Head Start received the first half of that funding at the beginning of the grant year, said Head Start Program Director Karen Randall.

Funds will be used for costs of Head Start that include staff salary and fringe benefits, training, and direct operational costs. Chenango County Head Start and Early Head Start currently serve 302 children and their families at six different facilities located throughout the county.

“The amount we received is what we had budgeted for the year,” Randall said. “We never know from year to year what funds will be available. President Obama is proposing increases for Head Start and Early Head Start for 2016, but at this point, we aren’t sure what next year will look like.”

Head Start is a federally funded program for preschool children ages 3 to 5 years old. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities designed to meet their individual needs. Families receive comprehensive services in the areas of health, nutrition, education and social services. Programming is offered through either a center base or home base design where parents are actively involved in all aspects of the program.