By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington’s Heartland Head Start, which provides childcare assistance to local families, has been feeling the ripple effects of not having a state budget.

“We laid off six staff. That was staff for two classrooms, which we are down at this point,” said Executive Director Karen Bruning. “Our part-day program has not been affected because we get federal dollars.”

Bruning explained having fewer classes to offer is leaving some families with a tough choice.

“It comes down to whether they have to quit their job to stay home with their children,” said Bruning. “Unless they can find somebody to care for their child, but some of them are not making enough money to be able to pay for that.”

Bruning said another pressure point on Head Start is the fact Governor Rauner issued a ruling to change the eligibility requirements for childcare assistance and so many of their usual families are not even eligible for the program this year. State lawmakers are working on legislation to change those requirements.

“What’s going to happen is we’re going to have families losing their jobs and going back on TANF, which is welfare, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and that’s just going to ultimately hurt our economy in the long run,” Bruning said.

Head Start typically receives about $250,000 from the State of Illinois.

Bruning said it’s frustrating because they’re seeing a need that’s not being met and they can’t do much about it.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].