On this week’s “Florida NewsMakers” program, Lilli Copp, the Director of Florida’s state Head Start office, sits down with Sachs Media Group’s Trimmel Gomes to discuss the impact of the federal government shutdown on Florida’s Head Start programs.

As the budget stalemate continues in Washington, Copp says agencies that provide education services to some 10,000 children will continue to close their doors. Copp notes that almost two dozen programs nationally didn’t receive funding before the October 1 federal shutdown, and Florida is home to eight of them. “It’s been a tragedy for a number of reasons,” Copp says. “This is really having an impact not only on the families but on the staff as well.” Head Start offers free preschool education, health and a variety of other services to children from families who live at or below the federal poverty level. Copp addresses those issues and more on “Florida NewsMakers.”

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