Head Start

 

Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the cognitive, physical, behavioral, and social-emotional development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services to their enrollees - low-income children and families, including those on federally recognized tribal reservations and migratory farm workers. The program is designed to involve parents in their childs learning and development, and to help parents make progress toward their educational, literacy, and employment goals. Head Start also emphasizes the significant involvement of parents in the administration of their local Head Start programs. The Head Start Program Performance Standards outline the requirements and expectations of programs in delivering these services. Head Start programs are expected to collaborate with other early care and education programs in their communities, and to work closely with local school systems to continue the gains children achieve in Head Start. Through Early Head Start programming, the focus includes the development of children, and the enabling of parents to fulfill their roles while moving toward self-sufficiency. These programs promote the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of infants and toddlers through safe and developmentally enriching caregiving, preparing children for continued growth and development and eventual success in school and life. To achieve their goals, programs are supported by a three-tier training and technical assistance system (national, regional, and local) designed to complement one another. Objectives of the training and technical assistance system includes expanding staff qualifications and improving management systems and learning environments. Since 2014 through Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, access is expanded to meet the needs for infant and toddler care in communities through traditional Early Head Start programs or through partnerships with center-based and family child care providers who agree to meet the Head Start Program Performance Standards. The Office of Head Start Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) System improves the knowledge, skills, and practices of recipient staff to implement programs which, in turn, improve the outcomes of children and families. The system includes four National Centers, each with an area of focus that collaborate effectively to support and promote consistent practices across Head Start/Early Head Start communities. The centers include Program Management and Fiscal Operations; Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning; Parent, Family, and Community Engagement; and Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety. Awards are also issued to Tribal Colleges & Universities for establishing or enhancing partnerships with Head Start programs to effectively increase the number of qualified education staff working in American Indian Alaska Native Head Start and Early Head Start programs. In collaboration with the Office of Child Care and Office of Early Childhood Development, Head Start provides funding to the National Early Care and Education Workforce Center to support recruitment and retainment strategies across all Early Care and Education settings. In FY 2023, an award was made available on the National Head Start Fellowship Program to support in the development and implementation of long-term quality improvement initiatives in Head Start programs.

Active 93.600 Administration For Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services B - Project Grants; C - Direct Payments For Specified Use Fiscal Year 2016 We estimate that the Head Start program will fund 912,156 early childhood slots in FY 2016 that will provide comprehensive services to children and families, the same level as served in FY 2015. The Head Start program funded 915,603 early childhood slots in FY 2016.
Fiscal Year 2017 In FY 2017, the Head Start program provided comprehensive services to children and families enrolled in 899,374 early childhood slots.
Fiscal Year 2019 It is estimated that the Head Start funded 873,019 early childhood slots in FY 2020 that provided comprehensive services to children and families. These slots were funded through 2,195 awards.
Fiscal Year 2020 The Head Start program funded 852,501 early childhood slots in FY 2020 where comprehensive services were provided to children and families. These slots were be funded through 2,208 awards. CARES Act supplemental funding was included in awards issued to recipients during FY2020.
Fiscal Year 2021 It is estimated the Head Start funded 839,116 early childhood slots in FY 2021 where comprehensive services to children and families were provided. These slots were funded through 2,162 awards. An additional 1,600 awards were issued to include FY2021 COVID-19 supplemental and American Rescue Plan funds.
Fiscal Year 2022 It is estimated the Head Start program funded 833,075 early childhood slots in FY 2022 where comprehensive services to children and families were provided. Services were delivered through 2,086 awards.
Fiscal Year 2023 It is estimated the Head Start program will fund 755,074 early childhood slots in FY 2023 where comprehensive services to children and families will be provided. These services will be delivered through approximately 2,017 awards. Head Start Act, as amended by the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, Public Law 110-134, 42 U.S.C. 9831 Any government, federally-recognized Indian tribe, or public or private nonprofit or for profit agency which meets the requirements listed in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) may apply for an award. However, applications will be considered only when submitted in response to a specific opportunity, published at the following website address: http://www.grants.gov, which solicits proposals to expand Head Start/Early Head Start programs or establish new ones. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards. Head Start/Early Head Start programs are for children from birth up to the age when the child enters the school system; however, Head Start programs only serve pre-school age children while Early Head Start programs serve children from birth through age three as well as pregnant women. The Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership programs are expanding access to high quality early learning and development opportunities for infants and toddlers from birth through age four. No less than 10 percent of each Head Start program's enrollment shall be for children with disabilities. Nonprofit organizations must submit proof of nonprofit status. Applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Part 75 as applicable of the Code of Federal Regulations. For profit Head Start recipients must comply with subparts A through E of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants may find and apply to NOFOs on https://www.grants.gov. Awards are made to recipients through a competitive process. Applications are scored and ranked by an objective non-federal review panel and the final rankings along with other factors are taken into consideration as OHS makes final funding decisions. Each application will be screened to determine whether it meets any of the disqualifying factors: missing the application deadline, required electronic submission or waiver requested and approved, or exceeding the Award Ceiling. Disqualified applications are considered to be "non-responsive" and are excluded from the competitive review process. Applications competing for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated by objective review panels using only the criteria described in the NOFO. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson. Results of the competitive objective review are taken into consideration by ACF in the selection of projects for funding; however, objective review scores and rankings are not binding. Scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. If identified in Section I. Program Description, ACF reserves the right to consider preferences to fund organizations serving emerging, unserved, or under-served populations, including those populations located in pockets of poverty. In addition, ACF reserves the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering geographic distribution of federal funds (e.g., ensuring coverage of states, counties, or service areas) in its pre-award decisions. ACF will complete a review of risk posed by applicants as described in 45 CFR 75.205. ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 90 to 120 days. This, depending on the nature of the proposal, can vary considerably from 90 days to as much as several months. ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested. Awards are made for a period of five years, during which the recipient is measured by criteria that could make it eligible for a new five year project. If the criteria are not met, the service area and funding becomes available through competition. Once a decision is made, awards are issued by 10 Regional Offices that are geographically responsible for awards in certain states or territories. Awards to American Indian and Alaska Native, and Migrant and Seasonal programs are issued by the Central Office . Not applicable. From 90 to 120 days. Office of Head Start informs recipients of the application procedures for renewal. Non-competing continuations are issued based on availability of an appropriation, satisfactory progress, compliance with the terms and conditions of the award and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government. The criteria for selecting proposals will be published in the NOFO(s). At least 90 percent of the enrollees in a program must be income eligible; i.e., from families whose income is below the poverty line, from families receiving public assistance, from homeless families or children in foster care. Programs may serve an additional 35 percent of participants with incomes up to 130 percent of poverty if they can demonstrate that they already are meeting the needs of children below the poverty line in the area served. American Indian and Alaska Native programs may enroll additional over-income children if they enroll all children in their service area that are income eligible and predominantly serve children meeting the low income criteria. Training and technical assistance awards are available to Head Start programs. Performance Reports: Every agency is monitored on different aspects of their program throughout their five-year award. New recipients are monitored after their first year in operation. Performance progress reports are required using the SF-PPR ACF Performance Progress Report. The frequency of reporting will be listed in the NOFO and in the award terms and conditions. For more information, see: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/manage-grant/reporting. 45 CFR Part 75 Subpart F applies to this program. The Office of Head Start provides the annual Head Start audit supplement, which includes Head Start-specific guidance and procedures. Lastly, there are also audit-type requirements associated with Head Start fiscal monitoring events. Recipients must maintain an accounting system adequate to meet the purposes of the award. Requirements for records are found in 45 CFR Part 75.361-5 as applicable. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 20%. Recipients are required to meet a 20% non-federal share match requirement under section 640(b) of the Head Start Act. However, programs can request to waive the non-federal share match, if necessary.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Funds are available for a 12-month budget period and are released periodically based on recipient expenditures. Awards typically consist of a 5-year project period that includes five separate budget periods. Recipients are issued a Notice of Award (NoA), indicating the terms and conditions of the award, funding amount, and award period. Regional Program Managers (per region) Region I (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT): Marina Winkler, marina.winkler@acf.hhs.gov, (617) 565-1150; Region II (NJ, NY, PI, VI): Carolyn Baker, carolyn.baker@acf.hhs.gov, (646) 905-8145; Region III (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV): Desmond Clayton, desmond.clayton@acf.hhs.gov, (215) 861-4072; Region IV (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN): Erika Lundy, erika.lundy@acf.hhs.gov, (404) 562-2770; Region V (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI): Karen McNamara, karen.mcnamara@acf.hhs.gov, (312) 353-2571; Region VI (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX): Kenneth Gilbert, kenneth.gilbert@acf.hhs.gov, (214) 767-8844; Region VII (IA, KS, MO, NE): Clarence Small, clarence.small@acf.hhs.gov, (816) 426-2275; Region VIII (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY): Cheryl Lutz, cheryl.lutz@acf.hhs.gov, (303) 844-1171; Region IX (AZ, CA, HI, NV): Cynthia Yao, cynthia.yao@acf.hhs.gov,(415) 437-8451; Region X (AK, ID, OR, WA): Robert Colombini, robert.colombini@acf.hhs.gov, (206) 615-3648 American Indian-Alaska Native programs: Todd Lertjuntharangool, todd.lertjuntharangool@acf.hhs.gov, (202) 205-9503 Migrant & Seasonal programs: Sandra Carton, sandra.carton@acf.hhs.gov, (202) 205-8397 Stan Thompson
330 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20201 US
stanley.thompson@acf.hhs.gov
Phone: 202-205-7377 https://acf.hhs.gov/ohs 75-1536-0-1-506 (Project Grants) FY 22$10,862,653,587.00; FY 23 est $11,819,345,263.00; FY 24 est $12,924,896,294.00; FY 21$10,671,384,724.00; FY 20$10,193,051,316.00; FY 19$10,168,573,503.00; FY 18$9,331,622,051.00; FY 17$9,357,741,817.00; FY 16$8,934,669,231.00; - Total amounts includes allocations for the direct provision of Head Start, Early Head Start, and/or Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership services, and training and technical assistance grants issued directly to all recipients and other national entities. The total allocated for training and technical assistance is approximately two percent of total funding. National training and technical assistance and collaboration awards issued to non-direct service recipients totals approximately $40 million. Range of assistance: Min: $314,503 Max: $176,033,357 Average: $5,968,157 Median: $3,513,228 Chapter XIII of Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations, including 45 CFR 1301 - 1305. Not applicable.