Arra - Head Start (93.708)

Program

93.708 Arra - Head Start

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Administration For Children And Families

Authorization

Head Start Act, as amended by the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, Public Law 110-134; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5.

Program Number

93.708

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

This funding will provide economic stimulus to the nation while furthering the ACF mission to promote the school readiness of low-income children. The objective of the Head Start program is to enhance the cognitive, social and emotional development of low-income children through the provision of comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social and other services and to involve parents in their children’s learning 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.

Types of Assistance

Project Grants

Uses and Use Restrictions

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. Training and technical assistance grants are available to Head Start programs. The State Advisory Council funds will be awarded as one-time startup grants of not less than $500,000 to those states that submit an acceptable application, consistent with the requirements of Section 642B of the Head Start Act. See above.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Any government, federally-recognized Indian tribe, or public or private nonprofit or for profit agency which meets the requirements may apply for a grant. However, application will be considered only when submitted in response to a specific announcement, published via the Internet at the following website address: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_hsb.html, which solicits proposals to establish new Head Start Programs. Grantee agencies may subcontract with other child-serving agencies to provide services to Head Start children.

Beneficiary Eligibility

None.

Credentials/Documentation

Nonprofit organizations must submit proof of nonprofit status. Applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with Part 74 and 92 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Applications will be considered only when submitted in response to a specific announcement, published online at Grants.gov or on the ACF website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_hsb.html, which solicits proposals to increase enrollment in current programs. The standard application forms as furnished by DHHS must be used for this program. An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) in his or her State for more information on the process. (NOTE: State/territory participation in the intergovernmental review process does not signify applicant eligibility for financial assistance under a program. A potential applicant must meet the eligibility requirements of the program for which it is applying prior to submitting an application to its SPOC.). Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Prepare and submit applications according to the instructions provided in the applicable ARRA Funding Opportunity Announcement which can be found online at Grants.gov or on the ACF website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_hsb.html. The Office of Head Start will provide each applicant agency with a completed check list showing exactly which items must be completed by each applicant.

Award Procedure

Funds for local Head Start/Early Head Start programs, including a portion of training and technical assistance funds, are awarded by the Office of Head Start's Regional Offices. State Advisory Council grants will be awarded to the Governor’s office and awarded centrally by the Office of Head Start.

Deadlines

May 08, 2009 to Jun 23, 2009

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 90 to 120 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

OHS Headquarters or Regional Offices will inform grantees of the application procedures for renewal.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 20.%. Head Start grantees are required to provide 20 percent of the total cost of the program, although this may be waived wholly or in part if certain conditions pertain. Matching share may be in cash or in-kind fairly evaluated. The Federal share of the cost of State Advisory Councils activities conducted under section 642B of the Head Start Act shall be 30 percent and the state must provide the non-Federal share of 70 percent.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds awarded under the authority of ARRA are available for obligation through September 30, 2010. Funds are released by monthly allowance on an Electronic Transfer System or by monthly check. Semiannual financial and annual program reports are required. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: State Advisory Council grants will be awarded to the Governor’s office and awarded centrally by the Office of Head Start.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Semiannual financial and annual program reports are required. Funded grantees must submit quarterly reports required by Section 1512 of the Recovery Act. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR, Parts 74 and 92.

Records

Recipient must maintain information on children and families served, including income data to determine eligibility and data on services provided. Data should be kept for three years.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2009: The same as current. Fiscal Year 2010: Since 1965, Head Start has served more than 25 million children from low income families in 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Outer Pacific. The program has provided education, health, nutrition and social services to the target population. In fiscal year 2008, there were 1,604 grantees funded to provide Head Start services. We estimate in FY 2009 (and FY 2010) there will be 1,800 grantees.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1537-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $800,000,000; FY 10 est $200,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$100,000-$5,000,000; $300,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Chapter XIII of Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations, including 45 CFR 1301 – 1311. These are available electronically at the following ACF website: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/Program%20Design%20and%20Management/Head%20Start%20Requirements/Head%20Start%20Requirements

Related Programs

93.600 Head Start

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Region I (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT):

Louise Eldridge, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, Boston Regional Office, JFK Building, Rm. 2000, 15 New Sudbury Street, Boston, MA 02203. Telephone: (617) 565-1150.

Region II (NJ, NY, PI, VI):

Carolyn B. Goode, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, New York Regional Office, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 4114, New York, NY 10278. Telephone: (212) 264-2890, ext. 173.

Region III (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV):

Nancy Elmore, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, Philadelphia Regional Office, 150 S. Independence Mall West, Suite 864, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106-3499. Telephone: (215) 861-4048.

Region IV (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN):

Marsha Lawrence, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, Atlanta Regional Office, Atlanta Federal Center, 61- Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 4M60, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8909. Telephone: (404) 562-2841.

Region V (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI):

Kay Willmoth, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, Chicago Regional Office, 233 N. Michigan Ave. - Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 353-7562.

Region VI (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX):

Susan Johnston, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, Dallas Regional Office, 1301 Young Street, Room 914, Dallas, TX 75202. Telephone: (214) 767-8844.

Region VII (IA, KS, MO, NE):

Lynda Bitner, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, Kansas City Regional Office, 601 East 12th Street, Rm. 276, Kansas City, MO 64106. Telephone: (816) 426-2275.

Region VIII (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)

Ross Weaver, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, Denver Regional Office, 1961 Stout Street, Suite 924, Denver, CO 80294. Telephone: (303) 844-1106.

Region IX (AZ, CA, HI, NV):

Jan Len, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, San Francisco Regional Office, 90 – 7th Street, Ninth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103. Telephone: (415) 437-8447.

Region X (AK, ID, OR, WA):

Nancy Hutchins, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, Seattle Regional Office, 2201 Sixth Avenue, room 610 - M/S RX-70, Seattle, WA 98121. Telephone: (206) 615-3661.

Headquarters Office

Collen Rathgeb 1250 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20024 Email: colleen.rathgeb@acf.hhs.gov Phone: 202-205-7378

Web Site Address

http://www2.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: (1) Full-Year and Full-Day Head Start Programs; (2) Full-Year and Part-Day Head Start Programs; and (3) Part-Year and Part-Day Head Start Programs. Fiscal Year 2009: 1) Full-Year and Full-Day Head Start Programs; (2) Full-Year and Part-Day Head Start Programs; and (3) Part-Year and Part-Day Head Start Programs. Fiscal Year 2010: 1) Full-Year and Full-Day Head Start Programs; (2) Full-Year and Part-Day Head Start Programs; and (3) Part-Year and Part-Day Head Start Programs.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The degree to which the proposed project will meet the Head Start Program Performance Standards located on the ACF website: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/Program%20Design%20and%20Management/Head%20Start%20Requirements/Head%20Start%20Requirements and other program objectives as specified in the program announcement.