As shutdown enters second month some working poor parents lose child care

AI-assisted summary

A federal government shutdown has caused some Head Start programs in Georgia to close, impacting hundreds of children.

An emergency loan from private funders is temporarily keeping the largest Head Start providers in Georgia open.

The shutdown threatens child care, meals, and specialized therapy for children from low-income families.

This story was originally published by The Imprint , a national nonprofit news outlet covering child welfare and youth justice. Sign up for The Imprint’s free newsletters here .

The sounds of toddlers’ laughter and shouts fill the brisk air in Clarkston, Ga. On this Head Start playground, children tumble, run and push bright red scooters as their watchful teachers look on.

The cold is just beginning to settle in, so it’s a