Published: November 23, 2009 08:11 pm      

CASE W.Va. gets boost to help more of those in need

BLUEFIELD — Early Head Start programs in southern West Virginia will share almost $3 million of funding being provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Community Action of Southern Eastern (CASE) West Virginia, based out of Bluefield, will receive $858,487. CASE will expend its program to serve 80 additional children, families and pregnant mothers. It will also add eight teaching staff, four home visitors and three additional support staff. The program will have added focus on teen-age mothers and plans for establishing a new transitional classroom at Hinton High School in Summers County.

“We are pleased and excited to be able to include these additional families in our program. This will have a marvelous impact on the communities we serve,” said Darlene Martin, Head Start Director for CASE West Virginia. “This fills an important gap in services for these high risk children, period.”

Early Head Start for Monroe County Schools will receive $448,769, and Community Action of Southern Eastern West Virginia in Bluefield will receive $858,487, U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va. announced Tuesday.

The Monroe County Early Head Start program funds will be used to construct a new facility on the campus of James Monroe High School and Vocational School to add services for 40 children ages birth to 3. Currently, the program serves 59 children and their families in Monroe County.

“Early Head Start has a vision for our country for many years,” said Jeana Comer Carr, director of Monroe County Head Start. “Our goal is to help parents be better parents and be more knowledgeable. We need to address learning problems our children may have way before they reach kindergarten, so they are on tract and ready to learn.”

“An early head start not only makes the race for success more competitive for all our kids, it makes America more competitive in the world marketplace,” said Rahall. “It’s one of the most valuable investments we as a nation can make.”