Udall, Heinrich Announce $5.6 Million In Federal Funding For Early Childhood Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced $5.6 million in federal grant funding to Eastern Plains Community Action Agency and La Clinica de Familia for early childhood education programs. Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grants are offered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to allow new or existing Early Head Start programs to partner with local child care centers and family child care providers serving infants and toddlers from low-income families.

"Improving child well-being in New Mexico is one of my top priorities, and investing in early childhood programs like these will help move our state forward," Udall said. "No matter where they grow up, all children deserve a fair shot at success."

"Investing in child care and development will help improve the long-term education and well-being of New Mexico children," Heinrich said. "These grants will expand early childhood education programs in communities across New Mexico and give our kids a head start on success."
 
La Clinica de Familia was awarded $2,169,698 to expand its Early Head Start program to serve an additional 72 families with intensive, comprehensive, high-quality education in Las Cruces and the surrounding area. La Clinica de Familia is a private, not-for-profit federally qualified health center in Doña Ana County that provides medical, dental, behavioral health, and educational services.

Eastern Plains Community Action Agency was awarded $3,473,131 to continue its work providing educational opportunities for children and families in Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, Roosevelt, and Quay Counties. Eastern Plains Community Action Agency is a federally funded organization that provides Head Start and Early Head Start, Pre-K, community services, and food programs to rural eastern New Mexico counties.