Rep. Bresnahan visits Luzerne County Head Start during Head Start Awareness Month

WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, Jr., on Thursday visited and toured Luzerne County Head Start, Inc., in recognition of Head Start Awareness Month — and he and his wife, Chelsea Strub, read a book to 15 pre-school children.

Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, read “The Leaf Thief” to a Head Start classroom of 4-to-5-year-olds and also met with the organization’s administrative team to discuss early childhood education initiatives in Northeast Pennsylvania.

The Head Start Lynn Evans Biga Center is at 23 Beekman St., Wilkes-Barre. Beth White is the LCHS executive director.

“Head Start programs give children the strong foundation they need to succeed in school and in life,” Bresnahan said. “Investing in our youngest learners is one of the best investments we can make. The caring staff and volunteers at Head Start are doing incredible work to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. It was a privilege to spend time with these bright young students and to hear directly from the dedicated staff who work every day to make a difference in their lives.”

During his visit, Bresnahan spoke with teachers and administrators about the challenges and successes of providing high-quality early education, family support and developmental resources to children and families in the region. Bresnahan emphasized the importance of continued support for early childhood education and programs like Head Start that strengthen families and communities.

“We were honored to welcome Rep. Bresnahan to our Lynn Evans Biga Center in Wilkes-Barre, where he spent time reading a story to our children and speaking with members of our administrative team,” said Elizabeth White, Executive Director of Luzerne County Head Start. “During his visit, we discussed the vital role early childhood education plays in shaping strong futures and supporting working families. Our conversation also highlighted the lifeline our services provide — helping families pursue employment and education opportunities while accessing essential community resources, support and referrals. We also discussed the importance of not only continued federal funding for programs like Head Start, but also the need to increase that funding to ensure that all children and families have access to high-quality early learning experiences and comprehensive support. We are grateful to Rep. Bresnahan for his time, engagement and continued commitment to children, families and early education programs in our community.”

White said the visit highlighted Bresnahan’s ongoing commitment to supporting educational initiatives that promote opportunity, development, and long-term success for children and families throughout the district.

Following a closed-door meeting with Bresnahan, White said her agency received its funding for the calendar-year 2025, meaning it would not run out until the end of December. She said the Wilkes-Barre location received $12 million in federal funding, plus another $7 million in state funding, which is also held up by the non-passage of a new state budget.

White said there are 345 students at Head Start in Luzerne County from households at or below the federal poverty level.

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