Head Start programs reopen in Central Washington

More than 400 children in Central Washington are returning to their classrooms following the arrival of federal funds for Early Head Start and Head Start programs at Inspire Development Centers.  The organization offers early childhood education programs to low-income children.

On Friday, Inspire received over $4 million from the U.S. Administration for Children and Families. Inspire had suspended programming in the region last week due to a lack of funding. Last week’s closure also affected over 400 children in Grandview, Granger, Mabton, Othello and Parker Heights, as well as more than 70 employees.

The funds will enable Inspire to continue its Early Head Start and Head Start programs in Washington state.  

“The balance of funds will allow us to complete this program year, which will get us through … I think the beginning of July,” Jorge Castillo, the CEO of Inspire, said.

Castillo said the balance of funds award letter covers the remainder of the original award for center-based Head Start and Early Head Start and the children and employees in these programs.

In addition, he said, they received the balance of funds for their Seasonal Head Start program, which could have been at risk for closure if they hadn’t received federal funds by July 2025.

Castillo said that the funds will also help cover a few weeks of next year’s programs, which begins in the fall.

“It was the best news we ever received. We were so excited, celebrating here. Parents were so excited to return and very happy,” Arminda Caballero, Inspire Development Center’s Sunnyside II manager, said.

Receiving the funds balance, said Caballero, allowed 88 children to return to the Sunnyside II center, where activities will run until May 27. She said that the activities run through June and July at other centers.

Castillo said the program’s future in 2026 remains uncertain. That will depend on the budget set by the Trump administration.

“We need to continue fighting for these awesome programs because it all depends on the president … I have faith that if all of us work together, it will make a big impact,” said Caballero.

Castillo also emphasized the importance of the programs.

“When Head Start is in a community, you have less family stress … you have more continuity, more regular folks being able to keep their employment, be consistently at their jobs, because their children are in a safe place,” Castillo said.

Castillo and Caballero said that Head Start programs serve community members who qualify for the program equally, regardless of their background.  

“These children are the future of these communities. They’re going to be contributing positively, and I don’t think we should ever be turning our backs on the future,” Castillo said.