Rocky Mountain Development Council’s Head Start program struggles with staffing shortage

If they can’t fill those positions, Pena-Larsen said they could lose slots permanently because staffing helps determine federal funding.

Staffing shortages are nothing new in the child care industry, but in Helena, a staffing shortage could mean less federal funding and fewer child care slots at Rocky Mountain Development Council’s Head Start program.

Since 1967, RMDC’s Head Start program has provided free early childhood education and family advocacy services to the Helena area. The federally-funded program is meant to serve children from a variety of situations—from families who are at or below the federal poverty level, to children in the foster care system, to children experiencing homelessness.

By: Marian Davidson