WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Congressman Dan Boren announced today a $2.1 million grant for the Northeast Community Action Agency of Stigler from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant will be used for the agency’s Head Start program across Eastern Oklahoma.
“I am very pleased this funding is headed to Eastern Oklahoma,” Boren said. “Establishing a quality and safe environment for our children’s early education gives them the tools they need to succeed and to learn the fundamental lessons of life. I look forward to working with KI BOIS in the future to acquire grant funding for these important education initiatives.”
The KI BOIS Head Start Program operates in 30 different center-based sites throughout a four county area - and is federally funded to serve 893 children. About 17% of these children have various disabilities. KI BOIS contracts with 22 public schools to provide pre-school classes for their four-year-olds – allowing for full-day services and an additional 150 children to be served. In addition to engaging in educational activities, participants also receive free medical and dental care, have healthy meals and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting. The program provides a comprehensive approach to helping children become ‘school ready.’
“We are very appreciative of Congressman Boren’s efforts on behalf of Eastern Oklahoma,” said R. Carroll Huggins, Executive Director of KI BOIS Community Action. “This funding will not only provide these education services to our children, but it will also provide them with a healthy environment as well.
KI BOIS Community Action Foundation serves Latimer, LeFlore, Haskell, and Pittsburg counties. Covering 4,134 square miles, the total population of the four counties is 110,600. Of this total, 19,393 are below poverty income guidelines. KI BOIS Community Action provides employment for over 950 people, has an annual payroll of over $12 million, a total budget of $33 million dollars, and is one of the largest employers in Southeastern Oklahoma.
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