Thompson Announces $6.1 Million to Support Head Start Programs for Centre, Clearfield Counties

BELLEFONTE, Pa. – Today, U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is awarding CenClear Child Services, Inc. a federal grant in the amount of $6,157,353.00 for its Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Since 1980, CenClear Child Services, Inc. has served the communities of Centre and Clearfield counties. The nonprofit continues to meet the needs in the community by developing programs and services to support children and their families.

Head Start is a pre-school program that aids eligible 3- to 5-year-old children and their families. Early Head Start is a home based program for eligible families with pregnant women, infants, and toddlers up to the age of 3.

Both programs provide support for low-income families and provide development programs to promote the well-being of young children. CenClear serves more than 1,700 families and 3,300 children annually.

“These funds will be instrumental in delivering early childhood education programs, Head Start and Early Head Start,” Rep. Thompson said. “CenClear can continue to provide quality, comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services for the region.”

“These services not only provide children with high-quality educational experiences but also provide parents with support to become active members within their community,” said CenClear CEO Pauline Raab. “By providing early learning experiences, we are helping children become life-long learners which will lead to future success within the workforce.”

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