There's been a push by a conservative group to end Head Start, a free childcare and preschool poverty program that's been around since 1965.

The program has hundreds of low-income children enrolled in Mahoning County alone.

CEO Joe Shorokey of Head Start in Mahoning County, operating under company Alta, said negative accusations about the bi-partisan federally-funded program are invalid. 

"It's to help lift kids and lift families up out of poverty and to give them the support that they need," Shorokey said, "Many times children who come to Head Start might only get one meal at home."

A group called "Project 2025" laid out plans in a report for a future "presidential transition," and initiatives include eliminating Head Start, alleging "scandal and abuse," with "little to no long-term academic value for children."

"Abuses and neglect and other charges that are made by what I would call extremist groups, are unfounded," Shorokey said, "I think Head Start is the most highly regulated program I've ever seen."

He said Head Start provides critical needs at no cost, including access to nutritious food, mental health services, dental and vision care and evidence-based learning.

"It has this array of services and support, such as family engagement," he said, "Every family has a family advocate to help with any other issues that the family might be addressing or are experiencing."

Without Head Start, he said over 750 kids in Mahoning County from age zero to five wouldn't have the same resources.

"The fact that we provide not only free preschool education but high quality, highly monitored, preschool education...Without that, it would be devastating to families who wouldn't be able to provide that support for their family," he said. 

He added Head Start is "highly regulated" with multiple oversight bodies, as well as a policy council that includes over 50 percent of parents with kids in the program.

The Ohio GOP hasn't yet responded for a comment to the concerns.