Funds totalling over $35 million granted for Head Start initiatives in Fresno and Tulare counties
The US Department of Health and Human Services has allocated funding for Head Start programs in Fresno and Tulare Counties. This funding, secured by Congressman Jim Costa, is intended to support ongoing programs and provide resources for health screenings, staffing, nutrition assistance, and classroom improvements.
The funding is aimed at programs designed to help prepare little ones from underserved communities for Kindergarten. The money will also be used to support programs that assist vulnerable populations, including survivors of domestic violence and mixed-status families, who may face barriers due to the new immigration status verification requirement.
This requirement, introduced by the Trump Administration in 2025, mandates that public programs like Head Start verify the immigration status of applicants. The policy expands the list of programs considered “federal public benefits” subject to immigration status verification under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA).
While non-profit charitable organizations are exempt from status verification, service providers for affected programs must update their policies and procedures to comply. However, many details about how immigration status verification is to be implemented remain unclear and subject to further guidance.
Following a lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other coalition members, this policy is challenged as arbitrary, lacking proper notice and public comment, and violating federal administrative laws. The lawsuit argues that the policy will have a chilling effect on access to essential services such as Head Start, especially for vulnerable populations.
The lawsuit asserts that instead of saving money, the policy will cost states hundreds of millions annually and jeopardize the ability of these programs to serve all residents. Fresno County will receive more than $35 million from the federal funding, while Tulare County will also receive funding from the federal funding.
In summary, the new requirement mandates immigration status verification for program eligibility, affecting access to Head Start and similar programs. It imposes operational challenges on service providers, raises costs, and faces legal challenges arguing the policy is unlawful and harmful to communities it serves. The federal funding secured by Congressman Jim Costa is a welcome relief for local Head Start programs, providing resources to continue their vital work in preparing underserved children for Kindergarten.
The federal funding will support education-and-self-development programs in Fresno and Tulare Counties, specifically for programs designed to help prepare children from underserved communities for Kindergarten. Despite the new immigration status verification requirement, the funding will also be used to support programs that help vulnerable populations, such as survivors of domestic violence and mixed-status families, who may face barriers to accessing essential learning opportunities due to the policy.
