A crucial safety net: New Hampshire families rely on Head Start

In New Hampshire, where childcare options are limited, Head Start serves as a crucial support system for low-income families. Advocates warn that defunding the program would trigger widespread consequences, from job losses and overwhelmed social services to long-term setbacks for children and the state’s economy.

For some families, Head Start isn’t just an opportunity for their child to get early childhood education, it’s an opportunity for job preservation, peace of mind, and a brighter future.

That’s especially true in the Granite State, where affordable childcare is hard to come by and publicly funded preschool options are few. Head Start has become a lifeline for countless low-income families in New Hampshire.

“These services prepare children for success in school and in life, while giving parents the stability they need to work, pursue education, and support their families,” said Jeanne Agri, CEO of the Community Action Program in Belknap and Merrimack counties. 

The Head Start program turned 60 this year, amid threats of a $1 billion cut from the Trump administration to grant funding for the program that serves over 500,000 disadvantaged children and their families. Even after the threats passed, the administration continued to close regional offices and lay off support staff—which had significant impacts in New Hampshire. 

The Granite State had a reduction in grant disbursements from the government of around 61%—causing immediate financial strain and the closure of New Hampshire’s regional Head Start office, along with the loss of a number of jobs that helped the program operate. 

Head Start programs offer more to their communities than many might think, Agri said. They provide regular health screenings, nutritious meals, parent education, home visits, and crucial links to housing, job training, and other community resources. They prioritize children who are homeless, in foster care, or have disabilities, with at least 10% of enrollment reserved for children with special needs.

Currently, New Hampshire’s five Community Action Partnerships operate 32 Head Start and Early Head Start locations statewide that serve a total of 1,175 children.

“These programs are a foundation for families living at or below the poverty line,” Agri said. “If they disappear, we’re not just talking about a lack of education. We’re talking about job loss, homelessness, and overwhelmed support systems.”

A domino effect

Concerns over the future of Head Start are ongoing, with the Trump administration showing a willingness to consider ending funding for the program. The consequences of defunding Head Start would reach well beyond families, Agri said. Parents would be forced to leave the workforce or reduce hours to care for their children.

Meanwhile, Head Start centers themselves are major local employers. Teachers, nutritionists, family advocates, transportation workers, and administrators could all face layoffs. 

“It would be a shock to our economy,” Agri said. “Families lose care, staff lose jobs, and small businesses lose customers. It’s a domino effect.

“These programs do more than teach children letters and numbers. They connect people to health care, housing, and stability.”

The costs to the kids

Without early support, children would enter kindergarten unprepared, leading to higher costs for public education systems due to increased need for special education and intervention, Agri said.

“Head Start builds the future workforce. Without it, we’re limiting the potential of an entire generation—and paying for it down the line in education, health care, and public assistance.”

The program is more than just classrooms, Agri added. 

“They’re places where families find hope and a path forward,” she said. “Defunding Head Start would be a catastrophic setback for New Hampshire’s children, families, and economy. It’s not just a program—it’s a lifeline.”