Tester Delivers Grant for Pablo Early Head Start

Senator Secures Over $1 Million To Boost Childcare in Indian Country

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester delivered more than $1 million to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Early Head Start Program, boosting the initiative’s ability to provide childcare in Indian Country.

The grant specifically will allow CSKT Early Head Start to develop partnerships within the community to better support children ages 0-3.

“The development, care, and support services Early Head Start offers makes a huge difference in kids’ lives,” said Tester, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. “This grant will allow those services to expand, meaning more kids will get the help and resources they need to grow and enter school ready to learn on day one.”

Head Start and Early Head Start cover five major components: education, health, nutrition, parental involvement, and social services, and serves children with age ranges from newborns to age 5. CSKT’s Head Start Program launched in 1965 and has since expanded to include children from Polson, Ronan, St. Ignatius, Dixon, Arlee, Elmo, and Pablo.

This is just the latest grant Tester has secured for CSKT. Last year, he brought home over $1 million for the Early Head Start program, in addition to the $2.6 million he delivered for the traditional Head Start program.