Early Head Start Program Overwhelmed With Parents In Need
Phil Anaya-KFOX News Reporter

Posted: 8:16 pm MST December 9, 2010Updated: 8:52 pm MST December 9, 2010
LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Andrea Tellez of El Paso is the proud mother of 22-month-old Jayce. However, raising her son hasn't been easy since Tellez is a student at New Mexico State University.

"Being that I don't have family, I don't have anyone to watch my child," said Tellez.

Tellez said having a child while in school wasn't a part of the original plan.

"I did take a little turn, but it's OK, I'm managing very well," she said.

One big reason Tellez has been able to manage is the free early head start child care service provided by La Clinica De Family.

"I'm able to go to class or go to work, having that piece of mind that I don't have to run back and fourth or not finishing school," said Tellez.

The service provides children with free meals and education while their parents are at school or work.

Director Molly Sanchez said the program is a life-saver for hundreds of families, but not everyone qualifies, only low-income parents, which she says has increased since the recession.

"Especially with parents having to work, losing benefits, having to go back to school," said Sanchez.

To make matters worse, once the state of New Mexico decided to cut child care subsidies in November, parents were left nowhere to turn but federally funded centers like LCDF.

"For the first few weeks, we got calls continuously, we had people stopping by," said Sanchez.

However, even for federally funded centers like LCDF, money is limited and now there's a waiting list of more than 60 children.

"It's very disheartening when you have to turn people away," said Sanchez.

"Once I was in and realized how long the list was I was very fortunate and fortunate I'm still in it for one more year," said Tellez.

Sanchez said her worst fear is that federal lawmakers could eventually cut her funding, but she said it's something she doesn't have control of.