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Head Start Families Unsure of Future as Program Transitions to New Administrator

Hundreds of Connecticut families with children in Head Start are hoping for answers after the group that runs the program in two counties here dropped their contract to administer the federal childcare program.

Community Renewal Team had been the longtime administrator of Head Start in Hartford and Middlesex counties. Friday the nonprofit announced it was relinquishing its Head Start contract due to the conduct of former employees.

In a letter to impacted families, CRT said Community Development Institute Head Start, known as CDI, would take over and work with families until a new permanent grantee was named. In the time since, impacted parents, including Hartford grandmother Paula Beninato say they’ve been left in the dark with no explanation about a new childcare program, just days before school is set to resume.

“They said they’re doing the best that they can but they really just can't tell the parents anything because they don’t really know,” Beninato said.

CRT says when they voted to relinquish their control of the program, they were assured transition to CDI would be without issue, saying in a statement:

“It is our understanding that CDI would be ready to open Head Start classrooms on schedule next week – in fact, they assured us that the transition would be seamless, and unnoticeable for the families involved. Unfortunately, we cannot provide any additional information, because we have not been given a timeline or plans from CDI regarding their methodology for this transition of services.”

NBC Connecticut contacted CDI for a response to the Head Start situation. We were told we would receive a statement, but had not as of Thursday evening.

CRT says impacted families that do not find a resolution from CDI or other means contact them directly to see if any of their other programs may be a fit for their families.

CRT says impacted families should now call CDI at 720-747-5100 for further information.

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