A new $1.6 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services will allow the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Project Eagle to expand programs serving Wyandotte County families.

These funds are vital in preparing vulnerable children in Wyandotte County for life inside and outside of the classroom through programs focusing on early learning, health and family well-being. Children who participate in Head Start programs receive benefits that appear immediately and last a lifetime.

“It will be nice for our families because their children can transition from Early Head Start to Head Start and stay at our program. We will be able to watch these children grow from babies to entering kindergarten while enrolled in our program,” said Lisa London, Project Eagle program director. “This federal support allows us to serve 329 children and their families annually, providing essential home visiting services and early childhood education services in our Educare Center to families and children ages 0-5 at no cost to the family. Being a part of the Head Start community and the Educare Early Network provides opportunities for the children and families in Wyandotte County that may not have had access to otherwise."

Project Eagle programs focus on ensuring access to education and health programs for Wyandotte County, helping meet the needs of pregnant women, young children their families through comprehensive screening and referral services, high quality early childcare and home visiting programs. Project Eagle works daily to emphasize children's cognitive, social, emotional and physical development as well as family well-being.