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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The federal government shutdown is having an impact on Head Start services across the country, threatening education and care, meals, health services and stability. More than 8,000 children and families in 15 states and Puerto Rico -- including in Ohio -- have lost access to Head Start services already. The National Head Start Association said 140 programs serving more than 65,000 children and families in 41 states and Puerto Rico had not received federal grant funds necessary to operate as of Nov. 1. Some of these providers have been able to scrape together funds to keep going, said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the association. “If not for the extraordinary dedication and creativity of Head Start staff and community leaders across the country, tens of thousands more children would already have lost access to their classrooms, their teachers, and the stability that Head Start provides,” Vinci said. “Every day this shutdown continues, more families face the devastating uncertainty of lost child care, disrupted learning, and missed meals. Our youngest learners should never pay the price for political gridlock.” In Ohio, the fifth week of the shutdown has forced two Head Start providers in Highland and Scioto counties to close their doors, affecting 600 children and 150 staff members, with three more programs at risk of closure. Providers in Allen, Lawrence and Coshocton counties are operating on donations, community support and organizational reserves, according to the Ohio Head Start Association. “This shutdown is pulling the rug out from under working families,” Julie Stone, executive director of Ohio Head Start Association, on Monday “Parents are losing child care, teachers are losing paychecks, and children are losing the stable, nurturing environments that help them thrive. These are real people with real consequences — and Ohio’s youngest citizens deserve better.” Read More: Federal shutdown forces closures at some Ohio Head Start providers, others still at risk Head Start agencies in Coshocton and Allen counties are scheduled to temporarily close in two weeks. Without congressional action to pass a full fiscal year 2026 budget or a short-term continuing resolution, all seven providers face eventual closure, Stone said. Head Start provides early learning, nutrition, health screenings and family support services to low-income children from birth to age 5. When programs close, families lose access to education, care, meals, health services and stability, Stone said. “This shutdown is pulling the rug out from under working families,” she said. Head Start provides early learning, nutrition, health screenings and family support services to low-income children from birth to age 5.
