Nine Michigan early child care and education programs, supporting close to 3,000 young kids, are at risk of losing the funds they need to stay open as the federal government shutdown rolls on .

Head Start and Early Head Start work with children from birth to age 5 and helps 3- to 5-year-olds prepare for kindergarten at no cost to families. According to the Michigan Head Start Association, the program serves nearly 30,000 families in the state and brings in $423 million in federal grants.

However, as the shutdown entered its 30th day Thursday, Oct. 30, several local Head Start programs around the state with Nov. 1 grant dates had not yet received their next round of funding. And while some organizations have contingency plans, others may now be bracing to temporarily suspend services

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