Sullivan County's Head Start Programs Set to Reopen

WJFF - The Local Edition - Special Report

The Sullivan County community is set to welcome back its essential Head Start services, with the announcement of the reopening of centers in Riverside, Waverly, and Woodbourne by Thursday, according to Philip Pantuso of the Hudson Valley Times Union.

The program, previously known as Sullivan County Head Start, has been rebranded as CDI Head Start Serving Woodbourne and Monticello, marking a new chapter in its commitment to serving local families and children.

The unexpected closure of the program in February left many families in a difficult position, with the program citing "unforeseen circumstances" as the reason. However, federal authorities have attributed the shutdown to financial mismanagement.

In response to the urgent need for the program's services, the U.S. Health Department, in collaboration with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, has granted the Community Development Institute (CDI) Head Start the authorization to resume operations. This move is part of an ongoing effort to stabilize the program and ensure its longevity through the identification of a new service provider via a grant application process.

“The fact remains: Sullivan Head Start should have never closed to begin with. And it’s unnerving that these disruptions to families and staff went on for so long. As the work continues to secure a permanent provider, there will be a simultaneous effort to deliver accountability for the closure,” said US Rep. Marc Molinaro.

Rep. Molinaro recently voted in favor of increasing federal funding for Head Start Programs by over $1 billion for the Fiscal Year 2024.