The Head Start program in Jefferson County is run by a group unrelated to the Russellville-based Child Development Inc., which had to close 30 centers it operates in the state for one day recently due to a funding shortfall.
Local Head Start programs in Jefferson County are operated by the Community Development Institute, based in Denver and funded by the Office of Head Start under the Department of Health and Human Services, according to Jackie Dedman, director of the Arkansas Head Start Association.
“There are 23 Head Start programs in the state and Community Development Institute operates programs in Pine Bluff and Jonesboro,” said Dedman. “Child Development Inc. is completely separate and has nothing to do with the other programs in the state.”
Thirty Head Start centers in 13 counties, all operated by Russellville-based Child Development Inc., were closed Tuesday because of a funding shortfall, the assistant executive director said. The centers, serving about 2,300 children in 13 counties, reopened Wednesday.
DHHS is watching Child Development Inc. to ensure that Head Start services are being adequately provided to the Arkansas children participating in the group’s 30 centers, Dedman said.
“We are very closely monitoring the situation to make sure that the education and services continue for the Head Start children that are being funded to be served,” said Kenneth Wolfe, deputy public affairs director for the Administration for Children and Families at DHHS.
Arkansas News Bureau writer Rob Moritz contributed to this story.