PARIS - Community Concepts has received more than $2 million for its Head Start programs, but it may not be enough.

Deb Florenz, director of children's services at Community Concepts, said the $2.23 million the organization is receiving for the children's development programs represents a 1.5 percent increase from last year.

"When you get a 1.5 percent increase, that's like getting a cut," Florenz said.

She said the organization requested more than $5 million for the year, which it receives after an approval process. She said the increase is for cost of living. An increase of 5 percent is needed to cover inflation.

"The last four or five years have been hard," Florenz said. "If we don't get a comparable interest, we have to make adjustments to the program."

Florenz said the grant money will cover such things as staff salaries and benefits, transportation and supplies. Because of inflation, the organization has made cuts to some services.

According to the Head Start Web site, the federal program is designed to prepare children for school by "enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services to enrolled children and families."

Florenz said Community Concepts oversees the program in Oxford and Franklin counties. With 14 facilities and 25 child-care partners, Community Concepts offers the program to 548 "economically stressed" children and families.

According to a notice from the National Head Start Association, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 276-140 in July to approve $75 million for Head Start programs for the 2008 fiscal year, while the Senate voted 75-19 in October to approve $200 million. The programs are scheduled to be funded at $153.6 million, below the $189 million needed to keep up with inflation.

According to a statement from U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, nine Maine organizations will receive about $9.2 million in Head Start funding, with Community Concepts receiving the largest portion.

"It's the best social services program in this country," Florenz said.

Florenz said in the past year, Community Concepts has partnered with SAD 17 to run a Head Start program at the Paris Elementary School, and created a new program at the Gail S. Riley Children's Center in Paris.