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SCHENECTADY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (SCAP) Deb Schimpf, 518-374-9181,dschimpf@scapny.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SCAP ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF HEAD START CLASSROOMS Schenectady Community Action Program (SCAP) Executive Director, Deb Schimpf, today announced the opening of three new Head Start classrooms at the Howe Elementary School on Baker Avenue. SCAP received a grant in federal stimulus funding for this expansion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of $900,000 over two years. “Another 45 local children will be able to get into Head Start because of this stimulus grant,” said Executive Director Deb Schimpf. “All of the children in the program come from very poor families with incomes below the poverty level. We are able to give children whose families cannot afford traditional pre-school programs an equal footing once they start elementary school,” added Executive Director Schimpf. Head Start classrooms are for children aged three to five and help them be better prepared to start school. The program focuses on working with the children on social, emotional and language development and also prepares them for school by teaching early reading skills, numbers, science, music and art, fine and gross motor skills, and good health practices. With this expansion, nine new positions were added and several part time jobs were changed to full time. SCAP Head Start has 321 children enrolled in four locations: Bigelow Avenue, Schenectady; Glen Worden, Scotia; Bellevue Reformed Church, Schenectady and the new location at Howe Elementary School, Schenectady. “With Head Start, families who cannot afford to buy the best get the best,” continued Executive Director Schimpf. “Our families have access to pre-school education that is proven to make a difference and meets the strict standards for early childhood education as established by the federal government.” SCAP is one of four agencies involved in the Bigelow Corners project. The other three are Parsons Child and Family Center, the Capital District Child Care Council and the Schenectady City school district. The goal of this partnership is to help children be successful from birth through high school. SCAP serves individuals and families in crisis due to homelessness, unemployment and poverty. The SCAP mission is to help families help themselves so they can break the cycle of poverty. Those who need help should contact SCAP by calling 518-374-9181 or visit SCAP at 913 Albany Street, Schenectady. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and till 6:30 on Wednesday. For more information about SCAP programs and services go to our Website at www.scapny.org.
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