Encompass Community Services announced today that it has made the difficult decision to transition out of its role operating the federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Santa Cruz County. Encompass has a longstanding record of delivering high-quality early education programs with clean fiscal and operational audits.  

“This is not a decision we made lightly. In light of the extended federal shutdown, the delayed funding decisions, and the urgent need for stability for the families we serve, we concluded that transitioning the program now is the most responsible way to ensure that Head Start services resume as quickly as possible,” said Kim Morrison, Interim CEO of Encompass Community Services. 

Following a record-breaking federal government shutdown, the federal Office of Head Start (OHS) required Encompass to submit a detailed operational plan and budget in 72 hours with conditions that could not be safely met — including a retroactive enrollment target of more than 400 children, even though pre-closure enrollment was under 250 and staffing and facilities remain limited. Furthermore, in April the regional Head Start office in California was abruptly closed by the Department of Health & Human Services, leaving local operators without a critical voice of support. 

“We understand how hard this is for the many dedicated teachers, staff, and families who have built their lives around Encompass Head Start,” Encompass Board Chair Elaine Johnson said. “Our commitment to serving Santa Cruz County families, however, remains unwavering.” 

To keep the funding within the community and reopen the program as soon as possible for families who are currently without childcare options, Encompass has elected to exit the grant voluntarily. This action preserves Encompass’ ability to reapply and potentially resume Head Start operations in the future. In the meantime, Encompass is committed to continuing to identify potential gaps in childhood development and early education services in Santa Cruz County and explore possibilities for meeting these needs. 

OHS has indicated that Community Development Institute (CDI), an interim third-party Head Start operator, will provide Head Start and Early Head Start services until OHS conducts a competitive Request-for-Proposal (RFP) process for a new long-term grantee. Encompass is actively seeking information about CDI’s plans to support families and staff during this transition. 

Encompass remains fully committed to supporting Santa Cruz County. Even in the face of this unprecedented decision, the organization continues to deliver essential services in the areas of mental health counseling, substance use recovery, and housing support, impacting the lives of thousands of individuals and families each year. 

“As the federal landscape continues to shift under the current administration, we are confident in our resolve to evolve our organization to best serve our community,” Morrison affirms. “We will continue to serve our community with the compassion and dedication that have always defined us.”