The Office of Head Start has awarded Grand Street Settlement over $18.4 million in funding to provide Head Start programming for 583 children and their families, bringing the agency’s total preschool programs to over 1,400. Grand Street will open 6 new center-based programs in the Bronx and one in Sunset Park, Brooklyn along with over 17 family child care partnership programs in the respective boroughs.

Grand Street Settlement, founded in 1916, has historic roots in the Lower East Side and has strategically expanded throughout Brooklyn over the past quarter century. The move to the Bronx will mark a significant moment in the life of the 108-year-old agency. Along with high-quality, affordable child care programs, Grand Street is a leader in youth programming and operates vibrant programs for families and older adults.

“A child’s zip code should not determine their destiny. Children in the Bronx have five times less access to Head Start programs than children in the Lower East Side. This landmark expansion to the Bronx and further expansion of our programs in Sunset Park moves New York City in the right direction to address the need for high-quality and affordable child care.” – Robert Cordero, CEO, Grand Street Settlement

“This new opportunity is a bold step for Grand Street and it’s fantastic for the communities we serve. Alongside the 583 children we will enroll, we’ll be hiring over 140 staff, providing professional development and financial support for parents, and collaborating with local community partners to ensure that our programs and services match the needs of our families.” – Willing Chin-Ma, COO, Grand Street Settlement

The Head Start works with local community partners, neighbors, and families to provide supportive programming inside and outside of the classroom. Job training, educational courses, and connections to a vast benefits assistance network will be available to families in these programs. Programs are available for pregnant parents through the birth of their child and until the child reaches kindergarten.

According to the National Head Start Association, studies prove that preschoolers who attend Head Start have much higher rates of success on nearly every metric of life. Graduation rates increase, students are healthier, and they become better parents when they have children.

“We are thrilled by this partnership with Grand Street Settlement to co-locate Head Start programs at our Community Center. This collaboration represents a significant milestone for settlement houses, joining forces to provide critical services in The Bronx. I’m very excited for what’s to come and to share this moment with the Bronx community.” – Rigaud Noel, Executive Director, New Settlement

The Head Start grants are a 5-year contract with programs being launched over an 18-month period. Specific site locations will be announced as leases are finalized. Grand Street will be hosting community engagement events for local families and community-based organizations throughout the upcoming months. Interested community members can follow Grand Street on social media or visit the website at www.grandsettlement.org.

Additional Quotes

“It is my honor to stand with Grand Street Settlement as they announce their new Head Start Grants. These grants will significantly contribute to the important work they will do here in the Bronx, providing assistance and support to those who need it most. Grand Street’s community-focused approach to family care will provide much-needed support to an area that has long been underserved. The work Grant Street Settlement does reverberates beyond just the individuals who they assist, providing a model of community work we should all strive to emulate. Our community will greatly benefit from this new funding, and I am proud to support the reinvestment into our children and their families.” – Congressman Ritchie Torres

“Grand Street Settlement has been a leader in community-oriented services in New York City for over 100 years,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “As our City faces a dearth of high-quality childcare and early childhood education, I am thrilled to announce this critical federal funding that will provide more families and children with access to Grand Street Settlement’s outstanding early childhood programming. I am determined to identify successful organizations and programs that can benefit from federal funding to lift up all New Yorkers, and I’m grateful for Grand Street Settlement’s leadership in serving our communities.”

“I want to congratulate Grand Street Settlement on receiving over $18 million in federal funding for the expansion of their Head Start Programming in Brooklyn and, for the first time, in the Bronx,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “With an estimated six new facilities coming to our borough and partnerships with a dozen childcare centers, we look forward to working with Grand Street Settlement to ensure our children and families have the resources to benefit from these programs.”

“I am proud of the expansion of resources for our youth through this significant investment. The $18.4 million awarded to Grand Street Settlement is a testament to our continued advocacy for the needs of our young people. This funding will enable the expansion of Head Start programs in the Bronx, with one of its center based programs specifically within NYC Council District 16.  Enhancing access to early childhood education is crucial for laying a strong foundation for children in our community. Investing in their education and future is essential for the growth of our city. I look forward to witnessing the positive impact of this initiative.” – New York City Council Member Althea Stevens, Chair of Committee on Children & Youth

“Access to quality child care is a critical issue in the Bronx, where many families struggle to find adequate resources. Grand Street Settlement’s new Head Start programs are a welcome and much-needed solution that will make a profound difference in the lives of our children and their families. We look forward to partnering with Grand Street to provide engaging activities and programs for these families rooted in the arts and culture of the Bronx.” – Denise Rosario Adusei, Executive Director, Bronx Children’s Museum

“For over a century, settlement houses have been pioneers in early childhood education,” said Susan Stamler, Executive Director, United Neighborhood Houses. “Grand Street Settlement adds to that legacy today as they expand access to their high-quality education services across the City. With funding from this federal Head Start grant, Grand Street will not only be able to serve hundreds of children and families, but expand their community-focused, settlement house approach to more neighborhoods as well.”

“Acacia Network is thrilled to welcome our friends from Grand Street Settlement to the Bronx, where there is always a huge need for high-quality early childhood education that is accessible to underserved families in our communities,” says Lymaris Albors, CEO of the human services nonprofit Acacia Network. “As an integrated services provider firmly rooted in the South Bronx, we welcome the opportunity to further deepen our partnership with Grand Street, with whom we’ve been collaborating for many years through our work in the Lower East Side. Congratulations!”

“As a provider of early relational health services for families with young children in the Bronx, Chances for Children is looking forward to partnering with Grand Street Settlement to provide parent-child therapy on-site for families enrolled in their Head Start programs – working together to provide comprehensive services and give Bronx children a strong start in life.” – Lillian Rountree, Co-Executive Director, Chances for Children

“Day Care Council of New York is pleased to congratulate Grand Street Settlement on this important award from the Federal Office of Head Start. This award is both a recognition of the important work that Grand Street Settlement has done and an opportunity to expand their innovative services to serve more families.” – Tara N. Gardner, Executive Director of the Day Care Council of New York