Now that the federal government has voted to reopen, Encompass Community Services is actively preparing plans to reopen its Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which are temporarily closed due to the government shutdown. 

At this time, Encompass has not received its official Notice of Award from the federal Office of Head Start (OHS), and we do not yet have a timeline for when to expect it. Without this award notice, we remain unable to legally resume program operations. 

In the meantime, Encompass has initiated internal planning efforts to ensure a smooth reopening once federal funding is secured. We are also preparing communications for staff and families to keep everyone informed during this transition period. 

We recognize the disruption this closure has caused and are doing everything we can to restore services for families and rehire teachers and staff. Any Head Start family that has temporarily enrolled in the PVUSD Child Development programs during the closure will be welcomed back to Encompass as soon as we are able to reopen our centers. 

Additionally, we want to be transparent that once the Notice of Award is received, we will need to negotiate carryover funds and address a proposed 40% budget reduction from OHS. These negotiations will directly impact the scope and timeline of our reopening. 

We thank our families, staff, and community partners for their continued patience and support as we navigate this unprecedented situation. Encompass remains fully committed to resuming Head Start services that support the wellbeing and development of Santa Cruz County’s children and families.