Head Start (93.600)

Program

93.600 Head Start

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

Head Start Act
, Public Law 110-134, 42 U.S.C 9801.

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 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, however, if they can demonstrate they are serving all of the income eligible families in their service area, propose to serve up to 45 percent (49 percent for American Indian/Alaska Native programs) of their children from families not meeting the income eligibility requirements. Training and technical assistance grants are available to Head Start programs.

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

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 each Head Start program's enrollment shall be 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. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. 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. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. The Office of Head Start 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 Office of Head Start's Regional Offices. Funds for the following are awarded by the Central Office of Head Start: American Indian/Alaskan Native programs; Migrant programs; research, demonstration and evaluation efforts and some training and technical assistance efforts.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

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.

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

From 90 to 120 days. 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.%.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

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. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual information on the types of children served and the services provided. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. Semi-annual spending reports. At least once every three years every agency is monitored. New grantees are monitored after their first year in operation.

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

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

Fiscal Year 2008: Comprehensive early childhood services were provided to 906,992 children and families. Fiscal Year 2009: Comprehensive early childhood services will be provided to 909,492 children and families. Fiscal Year 2010: Comprehensive early childhood services will be provided to 909,492 children and families.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $6,877,975,000; FY 09 est $7,112,786,000; FY 10 est $7,234,783,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

136,000-200,351,000; 4,300,000.

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

93.708 ARRA - HEAD START; 93.709 ARRA EARLY 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

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.