Aiding kids no political spat

I don’t believe the welfare of our most at-risk children is a political issue. It takes a village, and we are all the village.

I am responding to Mona Charen’s column (March 15). Children in poverty often experience domestic violence, drug abuse, hunger, homelessness, sexual abuse and depression. Head Start is a wonderful program that is structured to nurture and educate developmentally. It gives parents the opportunity to work or go to school. Their children are placed in a caring environment while they are trying to break out of poverty.

Quality preschool to children of poverty can make a huge difference by giving them opportunities to succeed. Head Start has nourishing meals for children every day they attend school. Immunizations are required as well as health exams. Parents have an opportunity for leadership roles.

A multitude of studies support Head Start, but I don’t need a study to tell me that serving children of poverty is a good thing to do. The deficits filled for a child in Head Start cannot be measured by academics alone. This will impact a child for the rest of his life. We all have to care for the children. It takes a village.

Rusty Mazulo

Chattaroy