C.A.R.D. Head Start programs are temporarily reopening in Broken Arrow and several other northeastern Oklahoma communities thanks to a private donation.
C.A.R.D., short for Community Action Resource Development, Inc., is a federally funded program that provides educational, health and nutritional services for children from birth to 5 years old. The program closed Nov. 1 due to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
However, a message to family advocates Wednesday from the director, Angela Nerio, said a private donation will allow the program to open through Friday, Nov. 14. That applies to Head Start programs in Tulsa, Washington, Wagoner, Mayes, Rogers and Nowata counties.
“Our goal is to continue providing a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment for our children during this interim period. You will not lose your slot with Head Start if you have made other care arrangements,” Nerio’s message read. “We deeply appreciate your patience and understanding during this uncertain time. Your support and flexibility have meant so much to us.”
She said the organization will continue to monitor the situation and update parents next week as staff receive more information.
Jaimee Dale, a parent at the Broken Arrow Head Start, said the private donation allows for more stability in her and her son’s life.
“It’s wonderful,” Dale said. “He was being bounced around two families, so that means I have to juggle my work schedule based on their schedule. Some of my family members work two jobs, and so this is nice.”
Dale said her son benefits greatly from the environment at Head Start.
“Now he’s somewhere concrete with discipline and can still interact with friends. He loves it here,” she said.
Adriana Lozano-Ball, who expressed concern about how the program closing could impact her son, was thrilled to hear Head Start would reopen. The community, including the private donor, is coming together to help one another out during the shutdown, she said.
“Children shouldn’t be the ones stuck with the consequences of politics,” Lozano-Ball said. “People and its communities are the backbone of this country. Our government continues to fail us, yet we support each other through the thick of it. The government just wants us to be divided so they can control us. We are better together.”
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