Head Start (93.600)

 

Program

93.600 Head Start

 

Federal Agency

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Authorization

Community Opportunities, Accountability, Training, and Educational Services Act of 1998, Title I, Sections 101-119.

 

Program Number

93.600

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children, including children on federally recognized reservations and children of migratory farm workers, 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 come from families whose income is below the poverty guidelines as established by the Office of Management and Budget or from families receiving public assistance. Training and technical assistance grants are available to Head Start programs and to agencies which provide services to Head Start programs.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Any local 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 in the Federal Register or other public document, 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

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. (i.e. children three or four years old) while Early Head Start programs serve children from birth through age three. No less than 10 percent of the total enrollment opportunities in each Head Start program shall be available for children with disabilities.

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.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The grantee, its policy advisory group, and the ACF program specialist participate in a pre-review to develop plans and priorities. The standard application forms as furnished by DHHS must be used 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

The Administration for Children, and Families regional representative will provide each applicant agency with a completed check list form showing exactly which items must be completed by each applicant and delegate agency.

Award Procedure

All funds are awarded directly to the grantees. Funds for local Head Start/Early Head Start programs, including a portion of training and technical assistance funds are awarded by the Regional Offices. Funds for the following are awarded by the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) Headquarters: Indian programs (reservation only); Migrant programs; research, demonstration and evaluation efforts and some training and technical assistance efforts.

Deadlines

Applications for new projects may be submitted at any time or at times specified by announcement in the Federal Register or other public document. Applications for continuation grants must be received at least 90 days prior to the start of the new budget period.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

Grantees who are denied refunding may appeal adverse decisions to the HHS Departmental Appeals Board. There is no appeal for new grants denials.

Renewals

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

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

The statistical factor used for fund allocation among States is: the relative number of children (age birth to 4) living with families with incomes below the poverty line in each state as compared to all States and the source is the latest information available from the Bureau of the Census; Head Start grantees are required to provide 20 percent of the total cost of the program, although this maybe waived wholly or in part if certain conditions pertain. Matching share may be in cash or in-kind fairly evaluated.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are available for a 12-month budget period. Funds are released by monthly allowance on an Electronic Transfer System or by monthly check.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Semiannual financial and annual program reports are required.

Audits

Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR, Parts 74 and 92.

Records

Grantee must maintain an accounting system adequate to meet the purposes of the grant. Requirements for records are found in 45 CFR, Part 74 and 92.

 

Program Accomplishments

Since 1965, Head Start has served about 21.2 million children from low-income families in 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Commonwealths and Republic. The program has provided education, health, nutrition and social services to the target population. In fiscal year 2002, there were 1570 Head Start grantees. We estimate the same number of grantees in fiscal years 2003 and 2004.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Grants and Contracts) FY 02 $6,536,570,000; FY 03 est $6,667,533,000 and FY 04 est $6,815,570,000. (NOTE: The funds in this program are also for program contracts. The amounts that can be used for contracts cannot be predetermined.)

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$120,000 to $185,000,000; $3,950,000.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Chapter XIII of Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations, including 45 CFR 1301 - 1311. These are available on request at no charge.

 

Related Programs

10.550, Food Donation.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Regional Administrator, Administration for Children, and Families. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for list of addresses of Regional Offices.)

Headquarters Office

Head Start Bureau, 330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 205-8572.

Web Site Address

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

 

Examples of Funded Projects

(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 and other program objectives as specified in a program announcement.