Día de los Niños at St. John’s: ECS Head Start Celebrates Chula Vista’s Children

At the core of our faith is the call to love our neighbors and care for the vulnerable, especially children. Jesus placed children at the center of his ministry, saying, “Let the little children come to me…” (Matthew 19:14). St. John’s Episcopal Church in Chula Vista has embraced that calling. And this year’s Día de los Niños celebration on April 30 was a wonderful expression of that care in action.

More than 160 students, their siblings, and parents gathered on the St. John’s campus–home to one of the region’s Episcopal Community Services (ECS) Head Start programs–for a joyous, carnival-style event. It buzzed with music, snacks, games, stickers, and face painting. But embedded into the celebration was a deeper truth: a church community living into its mission, even as the program it supports now faces a critical threat.

Head Start, a federally funded early childhood education program, is at risk of being cut from the national budget. If Congress fails to protect this vital funding, thousands of children—including those at St. John’s–will lose access to education, food, healthcare, and emotional support during their most formative years.

“Education has always been important at St. John’s,” said the Rev. Roger Haenke, rector of the parish. “The partnership with ECS for Head Start has helped with our mission of presence in the community. Opening our doors and welcoming all people is an important mission of St. John’s.”

St. John’s once hosted a K-7 school on its campus. Today, those same classrooms are filled with the voices of preschoolers receiving a quality education through ECS Head Start. And through this partnership, the church remains a vital sanctuary–spiritually and practically–for families seeking a strong start for their children.

“This is outreach,” said Jeff Bates, Jr. Warden at St. John’s. “ECS is our partner, and we’re happy to support the kids and their well-being. Having a carnival is our way of doing that.”

By opening its campus to ECS Head Start, St. John’s is extending care to the youngest and most vulnerable members of the local community. This partnership is a natural extension of the Church’s mission: to nurture, to educate, and to build a more just society. And, with growing evidence that early childhood education is one of the most effective ways to ensure long-term success for children and their families, St. John’s is building a better future. 

Extensive research shows the profound impact of early childhood education.

• Children who attend Head Start are 2.7% more likely to finish high school, 8.5% more likely to enroll in college, and 39% more likely to complete college (Garces, Thomas & Currie, 2002; Deming, 2009; National Bureau of Economic Research, 2021).
• Adults who participated in Head Start as children are 23% less likely to live in poverty and 27% less likely to rely on public assistance than non-participants (NBER Digest, April 2021).
• Long-term studies show that early education leads to better health outcomes and reduced interaction with the criminal justice system over a lifetime (Heckman, 2010; Campbell et al., 2014).
• Participation in Head Start has been shown to improve executive function, social-emotional skills, and behavioral regulation—critical predictors of success in school and life (Brookings Institution, 2017; Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 2020).

“This is an incredible program that allows our children to get ahead,” said John McCann, Mayor of Chula Vista, during the celebration.

Rosa Cabrera-Jamie, ECS Director of Early Education and Family Services, emphasized the daily realities that Head Start makes possible: “Families rely on Head Start,” she said. “It allows families to work, finish college, or pursue other education. Without it, many would be forced to make impossible choices between caregiving and stability.”

“These programs are not just about early learning,” said Elizabeth Fitzsimons, CEO of Episcopal Community Services. “Head Start is an opportunity for families that are living on the edge to find stability. ECS Head Start is a positive intervention that can change the course of a child’s life.”

The loss of federal Head Start funding would devastate more than just classrooms. ECS employs more than 300 teachers and support staff through Head Start. A funding cut would jeopardize these jobs, reduce income for program sites like St. John’s that receive rent, and harm dozens of small vendors who provide food, supplies, and services.

“There is a real economic ecosystem built around these programs,” Fitzsimons said. “Now is the time for us to step up and wrap our arms around these families. Your voice is helping us keep this important program open.”

Without this critical funding, children could lose accessible, affordable learning environments. Parents might be forced to leave their jobs to care for children. Teachers would be laid off. Community partnerships would dissolve. The long-term cost of losing Head Start far exceeds the short-term savings.

The spirit of Día de los Niños–the celebration of every child’s dignity and promise–must now inspire our advocacy. This is when our voice is needed. We are called to protect the vulnerable, build up families, and challenge choices that cause harm.

Contact your representatives in Congress and ask them to protect Head Start funding in the federal budget. Let them know that communities like Chula Vista–and churches like St. John’s–are making a tangible difference through this program. Cutting Head Start would not only fail our children; it would abandon the very principles of justice, compassion, and care that our Church strives to uphold.

“This is what the Church is called to do,” said Rev. Haenke. “To stand with our neighbors, support families, and make our love for Christ visible in action.”

Take action now! Visit: https://nhsa.org/take-action/.