Florida Head Start Organization Temporarily Closes 24 Centers Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

WIMAUMA, Fla. — The ongoing federal government shutdown is leaving hundreds of Florida families without childcare as the Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) temporarily closes several of its Head Start centers across the state.

RCMA, which serves migrant and low-income families through early childhood education programs, announced that 24 of its centers in 12 counties have shut down due to the funding halt. The closures affect more than 700 children and hundreds of teachers and caregivers.

In a Facebook post, the organization wrote:

“The RCMA family is feeling the effects of the federal government shutdown. Twenty-four of our centers in twelve counties have had to close, leaving over 700 children and hundreds of teachers and caregivers waiting to return to the classrooms they love.”

Among the affected sites is the RCMA Wimauma Early Education Child Development Center, which had just welcomed back children before the shutdown forced it to close.

For parents like Flora Ramirez, the closure has created both emotional and financial hardship.
“It’s been a bit difficult because I’m on my own with my two daughters,” she said. “It was sad because we had finally found a place where we could take our child.”

Ramirez said the center provided free, reliable care—something she can’t easily replace. Now, she pays daily for private childcare while she remains out of work.
“At the center, it was free, and I only had to pay for a ride to get there,” Ramirez said. “Now, with the ladies who take care of my child, I have to pay them every day.”

While RCMA receives support from United Way and other local organizations, much of its funding—over $90 million last year, according to ProPublica—comes from federal grants.

RCMA has urged families and supporters to contact their federal representatives to push for a resolution to the shutdown and the return of critical funding.

For now, parents like Ramirez are left waiting and hoping.
“We just hope they open their doors again soon and that we can get those funds,” she said.

Although the closures are temporary, no reopening date has been announced. RCMA has not yet issued a comment regarding the timeline for resuming operations.

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