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SCHENECTADY, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that Schenectady Community Action Program (SCAP) will receive a federal award of $1,596,847 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support SCAP’s childcare partnerships for infants and toddlers, including the Head Start Program. This award represents the final installment of funding for a significant grant awarded to SCAP in 2019.

“Early childhood education is an essential element of every child’s foundation for lifelong learning,” Congressman Tonko said. “SCAP recognizes the potential of early learning programs to cultivate a strong, positive environment for the youngest members of our communities, and I’m thrilled that this award will help SCAP continue to provide the critical support services that Capital Region families rely on. This timely investment will ensure that every child and every family supported by SCAP will receive the resources and assistance they need to thrive.”

Congressman Tonko has long been a strong advocate for SCAP and its programs. In addition to cheering numerous other federal awards for SCAP, Tonko secured $1,500,000 through the Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding process for SCAP’s Campus Project. This project will create a whole-family campus featuring comprehensive supports for low-income residents of Schenectady County, including housing, childcare, employment, resource navigation, case management, and counseling services.

The funding announced today will go towards SCAP’s Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CCP) program. SCAP partners with local childcare centers and programs to provide quality care for infants and toddlers from low-income families. These programs promote the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development of young children and families.