Encompass Community Services address Medicaid, Head Start cut concerns
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) -- Local community agencies like Encompass Community Services are speaking out after rumors of potential budget cuts. Those could include federal programs like Medicaid and Head Start.
Encompass Community Services has served the Santa Cruz community with mental health, housing, and substance abuse services for over 50 years. The non-profit has also been the only provider of Head Start programs in Santa Cruz.
Encompass Community Services CEO Shellee Stopera says eliminating programs like Medicaid and Head Start would impact those who need the most help.
"Not only is the Head Start program something that offers child care services, early education, but there are screening services that are included in that," says Stopera.
Those screening services include audio, visual, and even dental exams. But above all, she says the cutback on these services would make families struggle searching for other childcare centers that might not be as affordable.
"So that's an impact on the families who can't necessarily go to work because they have to now deal with figuring out an alternative for child care," Stopera said.
Stopera adds that the headstart program has already seen significant cuts, with five regional offices closing in early February. She says cuts to Medicaid would also harm communities, since a third of Santa Cruz County receives healthcare benefits from Medi-Cal, a state branch of Medicaid.
"We don't definitively know at this point in time, but we're pretty confident that there's going to be some cuts. So again, we're asking our community to reach out to local legislators, be an advocate for your community, for these individuals," says Stopera.
For Stopera, it is important to advocate for the well-being of future generations.
"Research has proven that programs like this for early education, social development really can boost an individual's academic success in the future. And these children are our future," Stopera said.
Encompass leadership urges everyone to reach out to elected officials and let them know that these services are crucial for the community.
