Four St. Louis-area nonprofit organizations celebrated 60 years of Head Start in the region on Tuesday.

Four of the largest Head Start providers include YWCA Metro St. Louis, Youth in Need, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation.

They served nearly 5,000 students under age 5 in 2024.

The celebration comes after many Head Start providers were scrambling to understand possible cuts to federal funding earlier this year.

The Trump administration had floated the possibility of ending federal funding for the program but later walked back the proposal.

The program, which has long enjoyed bipartisan support, is now funded through 2026.

Pat Holterman-Hommes, president and CEO of Youth in Need, said investing in child care is critical

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