In recent months, the Trump administration has considered cutting funding for Head Start, a federal program that provides child care to families with low incomes across the US. Though the administration’s final budget request did not include cuts to the program, recent remarks from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggest Head Start could receive flat funding, or the same level of funding as the previous year, during this year’s appropriations process.
In effect, this would reduce the number of children served by Head Start and Early Head Start over time: as program costs and inflation rise, programs would likely be forced to reduce their enrollment to continue operating.
Funding for Head Start not only supports children’s educational outcomes but also provides a vital source of daily nutrition for roughly 800,000 children at risk of food insecurity. With Congress poised to make drastic changes to essential nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), policymakers should keep Head Start’s often-overlooked role in fighting child food insecurity in mind.
How Head Start meals support children’s health and educational development
Though Head Start is best known as an early education program, in reality, it provides a range of comprehensive services.
All Head Start programs participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). That means children enrolled in a Head Start program receive balanced meals specifically designed to support their physical and cognitive development.
Several studies suggest that participation in Head Start and Early Head Start is associated with healthier weight outcomes and healthier eating patterns among enrolled children compared with children in other care settings. These meals are essential to not only healthy physical development but also learning, as food security and proper nutrition are linked to improved academic performance and cognitive function.
Head Start helps fight child food insecurity
In the US, millions of children face the harsh reality of food insecurity. Food insecurity is more prevalent among children than it is among the total population in every state. Recent data from Feeding America suggest child food insecurity exists in every county and district, with 13.4 million children (about 1 in 5) living in food insecure households (PDF) in 2023.
Head Start directly combats child food insecurity. In addition to the nutritious meals provided through CACFP, Head Start connects families with health services, educational support, and assistance in accessing other food programs like SNAP. This holistic approach addresses the multifaceted nature of food insecurity and helps families achieve long-term stability.
Head Start also integrates nutrition education into programs, further empowering families to make informed food choices and form healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime. These educational components are crucial in preventing the cycle of food insecurity and fostering a healthier future generation.
How children’s health and nutrition could be affected if Head Start’s funding doesn’t keep pace with inflation
Flat funding Head Start would mean that as inflation rises, the program will have fewer slots available for low-income children. In other words, fewer children would have access to the program’s educational, nutritional, and other supports. This could worsen food insecurity for children around the country.
An analysis of Feeding America data shows that states with high rates of child food insecurity tend to have high Head Start enrollment, suggesting that Head Start is serving communities with the greatest need. Texas and Mississippi have some of the highest rates of both child food insecurity and Head Start participation in the country. For young children in these and other states, Head Start plays an especially critical role in addressing their nutritional needs.
Reducing Head Start’s capacity would have profound implications for child nutrition. Without access to the nutritious meals provided through CACFP, many children would face increased health risks as a result of food insecurity. Chronic food insecurity can lead to long-term developmental and behavioral issues, including anxiety, depression, and difficulties in school.
It could also increase costs for families who rely on Head Start for nutritional support and who may struggle to find alternative, reliable sources of healthy meals for their children.
Before making changes to funding for Head Start and Early Head Start, policymakers should consider how it would affect not only children’s access to care but also their educational development and access to essential nutrition.
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