A Head Start program in Hernando County might not have to close after all.

According to representative with Hernando County's Head Start said the program will run and doors will be open next week thanks to an alternative funding opportunity.

The bad news though, the funding only last for a week. If the shutdown doesn't lift, next Friday may be their last day if other funding opportunities are not available.

Mid-Florida Community Services currently runs the Head Start programs and were worried they would have to close their doors because they haven't recieved funding.

The centers provide preschool, child care and other services to children from low-income families and disabled children from families of all income levels. There are 924 kids on the rolls, including 264 at Hernando's Spring Hill and Brooksville sites.

All the Head Start locations in Hernando, Sumter and Volusia counties would close.

Dameshia Sanders can't believe it, but she's prepared to help her daughter.

"I'll teach her whatever she needs to know until Head Start opens back up," Sanders said.

Families aren't the only ones getting slammed by the news. Employees are in a tight spot too and might be out of work for a while.

A total of 215 staff members work for Head Start in the three counties including teachers like Amy Carroll. She's has her fingers crossed, hoping the program will stay alive.

"I'm just praying everything will work out the sooner the better," Carroll said.

A possible mess that could create some huge headaches for hundreds of parents but we're hearing community leaders in Hernando are trying to come up with a way to help out if the government shutdown continues.

Pinellas and Hillsborough counties say they have enough money to keep their Head Start programs open for now.