Steve Hilton, President of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, To Receive Award for Helping Infants and

HHS News Release

Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Claude A. Allen will present an award to Steve Hilton, President of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, today for his support of Early and Migrant Head Start programs that serve infants and toddlers with significant disabilities and their families.

Over a ten-year period (1997-2007), the Hilton Foundation, in a public-private partnership with the Administration for Children and Families' Head Start Bureau, will contribute $18.7 million toward intensive training programs for teachers and parents that will improve services to these often-underserved children. Over 500 communities serving more than 6,500 children per year will complete the training.

"Providing high quality services to children with disabilities is a priority for President Bush and Secretary Thompson. We are grateful to the Hilton Foundation for their support and partnership in this effort," said Deputy Secretary Allen. "Mr. Hilton is faithfully carrying out the wishes of his grandfather who believed that children represent our best hope for the progress of humanity."

The award will be given at a Head Start Summit entitled "Delivering on the Promise of Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Implementing Evidence-Based Practices." Participants will engage in dialogues with researchers on ways to adapt documented best practices in community-based programs serving young children and their families.

The Summit will be held at the:
Wyndham City Center Hotel
1143 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.

Contact: Chris Downing
ACF Press Office (202) 401-9215