Local nonprofit Encompass Community Services has run the county’s branch of Head Start programs for four decades, but its leaders said on Nov. 25 the organization will no longer run the programs. (Jesse Kathan — Santa Cruz Local file)

SANTA CRUZ >> The nonprofit operating a critical early childhood education program for hundreds of families in Santa Cruz County is stepping back, leaving the program’s future in flux. 

Head Start and Early Head Start support families with children 0 to 5 years old with child care, bilingual education and other services. The federally funded programs have been closed in Santa Cruz County since running out of money during the government shutdown. Community Development Institute Head Start, a nonprofit based in Denver, is set to take over on Monday and reopen classrooms that have been shuttered since Oct. 31.

Local nonprofit Encompass Community Services ran the programs locally for 40 years, but announced Tuesday they will be pulling out as the programs’ operator after struggling to reopen since the federal government shutdown ended Nov. 12. After the government reopened, the federal Office of Head Start requested a dense report from Encompass detailing their services and budget for the program, and set a new enrollment target of more than 400 children.

Around 200 children in the county are enrolled in the two programs, said Encompass Interim CEO Kim Morrison, and the nonprofit doesn’t have the facilities or staff to immediately double their numbers. Encompass laid off all its Head Start employees, about 90 people, when it shuttered the programs last month. 

Instead of potentially delaying the reopening of services by negotiating with the Office of Head Start, Morrison said they chose to step back.

“We decided the best thing to do would be to walk away from it and let them take over to provide those services as quickly as possible,” Morrison said.

Community Development Institute is “coming in just to continue the program,” said Elaine Johnson, Encompass board chair, adding that the nonprofit will hopefully utilize the same classrooms and educators. “They’re not coming in to disrupt or do it their way.”

Community Development Institute is a contractor of the Office of Head Start and has operated programs in 43 states. Morrison said the organization aims to hire as many of Encompass’ former employees and keep as many enrolled children in the program as they can, and continue services without interruption during the transition to a long-term program operator.

Santa Cruz City Councilmember Renee Golder, who is also the principal of Bay View Elementary School, said early childhood programs can be vital for setting kids up for success in the future. Any uncertainty during the program’s transition could threaten the stability of enrolled families, she said, if schedules or access changes.

“Families are absolutely in need of child care and children need preschool in order to help close the equity and achievement gap before they even enter kindergarten or TK [transitional kindergarten] in public school,” Golder said. “Access to quality child care is one of the most common needs in our community aside from affordable housing.”

Head Start and Early Head Start serve the most families in South Santa Cruz County. 

Morrison said the office could find a new contractor within a year, and Encompass may reapply, depending on the contract details.

After operating the program for four decades, Morrison said it’s clear it is a vital program for the county, though she said it’s uncertain if the federal office’s goal of 400 children enrolled is attainable. 

“Our No. 1 goal in this is that the services continue,” Morrison said. “That’s been our driving force in all the decisions we’ve made, is that the children need these services.”

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