The Life-Long Impact of Head Start on Early Learners

Through the Head Start program, Easterseals Southern California provides free childcare, early learning, nutrition to kids ages 0-5 and their families. Since 1965, the Head Start program has made learning possible for millions of children, ensuring they are set up for life-long success and stay out of the justice system. 

In early 2025, federal funding for Head Start faced the possibility of being cut, which would have been devastating to hundreds of thousands of families throughout the United States. While the program is safe for now, Easterseals is passionate about continuing to advocate for the program while showing the long-term impact that it has on children and their futures. 

In this video, Lupe Trevizo Reinoso, current Vice President of Easterseals Living Options, talks about her own journey as a Head Start kid and how it led to future success for herself and her siblings. She helped bring the program to Easterseals back in 2002 and has watched it grow into multiple sites throughout Southern California, serving over 1,000 families.  

“Growing up, we lived in a one-bedroom apartment, and it was cramped,” said Lupe. “Head Start was a great benefit to us. We were all counting, we were reading. It gave us the opportunity to go to college and decide what kind of career we were going to go into. I think that all comes from early childhood development. We were ready.” 

Head Start Sets Children Up for Success 

Research shows that Head Start children are more likely to do well in school, build strong social skills, and live healthier, more productive lives. 

“There are 15 or 20 extensive studies that show how children who were in Head Start end up better off in life,” said Ron Griffin, Vice President of Child Development Services. “They’re less likely to drop out of high school, less likely to end up on public assistance."

Thanks to the advocacy work of many organizations, including Easterseals, Head Start avoided budget cuts in 2025. But that doesn’t mean Easterseals will stop advocating for and spreading the good news about this essential program that has impacted the lives of millions of children over the last 60 years. 

“Easterseals is committed to keep our doors open to support our children, our families and our workforce,” said Elizabeth Mulligan, Area Director of Child Development Services. “Head Start is more than just childcare. We really focus on the education piece and have research-based curriculum. We also serve nutritious meals. Also, some of our programs have food pantries. We provide a service that a lot of families really depend on, and where would these families go without Head Start?” 

Learn more about Easterseals Child Development Services and how we actively support families in Southern California.