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RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN ON WAITING LISTS

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WHEREAS, the Head Start and Early Head Start Programs (collectively �Head Start�) provides comprehensive child development services for low income children and families in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, Head Start serves children from birth to age 5, and provides care and instruction for children in a classroom setting; and
WHEREAS, Head Start also connects children and families to individualized services in areas such as parental involvement; medical, dental and mental health services; and nutrition; and
WHEREAS, Head Start is funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners is the governing body of the Head Start program in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, Head Start is administered by the Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department; and
WHEREAS, Head Start currently serves more than 6,000 children in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, there is currently a waiting list for children in Miami-Dade County to enter Head Start that includes hundreds of children; and
WHEREAS, numerous studies of Head Start programs have found that Head Start increases educational achievement, raises test scores, decreases the need for children to receive special education services and makes it less likely that children will repeat a grade; and
WHEREAS, studies also have found that Head Start positively impacts children�s health, reducing by as much as 50 percent (50%) the mortality rates for 5- to 9-year-olds, and researchers attribute this impact to the fact that Head Start provides medical screenings, vaccinations and an emphasis on nutrition; and
WHEREAS,�studies also have shown that Head Start graduates are twelve percent (12%) less likely to be booked or charged with a crime, which translates into savings for crime victims, taxpayers and local, state and federal governments; and
WHEREAS, based on these outcomes, Head Start is a wise investment of taxpayer dollars; and
WHEREAS, increased federal funding for Head Start can reduce waiting lists and have a long term positive impact on our community,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges Congress and the federal government to increase funding for Head Start and Early Head Start to provide additional slots to reduce the number of children on waiting lists.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Section 3. Directs the County�s federal and state lobbyists to advocate for the legislation set forth in Section 1 above and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2013 federal legislative packages when it is presented to the Board.