Press Releases

Liberty, NY – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) today released the following statement on the abrupt closure of Sullivan County’s Head Start facility:

“Here’s what we know, what we’re doing, and what we still need to find out about the Sullivan County Head Start facility’s abrupt closure.

“I’ve been a big supporter of Head Start and the national program is still fully funded. Last year, Sullivan County Head Start was awarded approximately $3.6 million in federal funding to continue operating through March 31, 2024. Another award, for approximately the same dollar amount, would have been awarded to Sullivan County Head Start to continue operations past March 31, 2024 – if they applied. As of now, it is unclear if they did.

“This means the closure of the Sullivan County facility on Friday, February 2, 2024 was abrupt, unexpected, and should have never happened. Nearly 400 families are now without childcare and nearly 100 providers are without a job.

“Since Friday evening, I’ve been engaging with our county and federal partners to figure out what went wrong and I’m working with them to identify a backup facility. Our priority has been to get kids temporary care and find the county a new, permanent Head Start provider.

“In the days since the closure however, attempts to contact the Office of Head Start in Washington, DC have gone unanswered and two meetings to discuss a fix have been cancelled.

“I’m going public with this information because Head Start won’t. This organization, at all levels, owes Sullivan County answers. I’m not going to be silent while working families and their kids get screwed because of this incompetence.”