Heartland Head Start expands its program for younger children

Posted on August 1, 2015

Early head start is coming to Heartland Head Start after a federal grant was renewed last month. (WJBC file photo)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – Thanks to a $3.2 million federal grant that was recently renewed, Heartland Head Start is now starting early head start for pregnant women and children from birth until five-years-old.

It used to be just three-to-five-year-olds until a change to the federal grant program. Executive director Karen Bruning (BREW-ning) said the head start program won’t change much aside from the age restriction.

“A lot of is helping the family understand and educate them on the nutritional side and how to take care of their child,” Bruning said.

With its renewed funding, Heartland Head Start will now serve 221 head start children and 88 early head start children along with their families and pregnant women.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…