Elfreth, Contee Discuss Child Care and Tour Annapolis Head Start

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Yesterday, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) and Annapolis Alderwoman Diesha Contee toured the Eastport Y Head Start and discussed local child care needs. Elfreth and Contee toured the classrooms, read to students, and spoke to parents and educators.

The Eastport Y Head Start opened in August 2025 with 29 seats, serving children as young as 8 weeks old to age 5 after a demonstrated lack of child care in the area. The center provides holistic child care and family well-being resources, including at-home visits by a qualified family specialist for new parents, prenatal and parental education opportunities, nutritious meals and snacks at their preschool, and individualized learning experiences to prepare children and families for success in school.

"The power of Head Start is undeniable once you see these bright, curious kids and their phenomenal teachers. When Maryland children participate in Head Start, they are more likely to succeed in school, graduate from high school, and go on to complete college. Head Start is also essential for our economy: giving parents the opportunity to work while their children receive world-class care. That's why we're fighting every day in Congress to increase this essential funding to support Head Start, the next generation of students, and our educators," said Congresswoman Elfreth.

"Yesterday, I had the opportunity to tour the Y of Central Maryland alongside Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. It was inspiring to see firsthand the impact the Y continues to make in our communities through youth development, wellness programs, family support services, and outreach initiatives. The Y continues to be a lifeline for so many families across Central Maryland," said Alderwoman Diesha Contee. "Thank you to the staff and leadership for the warm welcome and for the incredible work you do every day to strengthen our communities and empower them that much more. Partnerships and conversations like these are important as we continue fighting for resources, opportunities, and investments that uplift our residents. Outside of watching the kids interact with their teachers in the classrooms, my favorite part was hearing the testimonial from a parent, Camerin Johnson, expressing her personal impacts from the program."

"We are grateful to Congresswoman Elfreth for visiting the Y's Eastport Head Start and Early Head Start program and for her continued commitment to children and families across Anne Arundel and Howard Counties. Strong federal investments in early childhood education, family support services and workforce development are critical to ensuring every child has the opportunity to enter school ready to learn and succeed. As one of Maryland's largest providers of quality early childhood programming, the Y appreciates Congresswoman Elfreth's deep understanding of and commitment to the life-changing impact Head Start programs have on children, parents and entire communities," said John Hoey, President and CEO of the Y in Central Maryland.

​​For over 60 years, Head Start programs have provided high-quality early education and comprehensive services for more than 40 million children and working families. Research shows that Head Start children are better prepared for kindergarten, have better health outcomes, and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.

However, on April 3rd, the Trump Administration introduced a fiscal year 2027 budget proposal that would level-fund Head Start and eliminate funding for Preschool Development Grants Birth Through Five (PDG B-5), which helps states improve early childhood systems, including Head Start programs. Elfreth is a strong supporter of Head Start funding and a co-sponsor of H.R. 7637, the Head Start for America's Children Act, to expand Head Start and ensure Head Start educators earn the wages they deserve.

Last year, Elfreth visited the Community Action Council of Howard County Head Start in May 2025. She also hosted a Child Care Roundtable in June 2025 with local, state, and federal experts in early childhood development and child care to discuss key issues like the rising cost of care, return to work, and changes at the Department of Education. She has been outspoken on the need to address the rising cost of care.

###