Overview of Head Start Programs and Administration

1 Office of Head Start Administration for Children and Families Department of Health and Human Services OHS Overview and Updates June 2020

2 Head Start Legislation and Regulations 2007 Head Start Act Head Start Program Performance Standards (2016) Fiscal Regulations

3 National Overview The Office of Head Start funds Head Start preschool programs, which serve nearly a million children and their families each year. The majority of programs provide services to 3- and 4-year-old children, and a growing number of programs for infants, toddlers, and pregnant women.

4 Purpose and Service Models Head Start programs promote school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families by supporting the development of the whole child. Head Start and Early Head Start programs offer a variety of service models, days, and hours, depending on the needs of the local community. Many Head Start and Early Head Start programs are based in centers and schools Other programs are located in child care centers and family child care homes Some programs offer home-based services that assign dedicated staff who conduct weekly visits to children in their own home and work with the parents. Head Start programs support children s growth and development in a positive learning environment through a variety of services, which include Early Learning Health Family Well-being

5 Office of Head Start (OHS) Role Through 12 Regional Offices, OHS is responsible for: Funding Training and Technical Assistance Monitoring Leadership Priorities

American Indian/Alaska Native Region 11 FY20 Update $4 Million for Tribal Colleges and Universities and Head Start Partnerships One time funding for health & safety needs Early Head Start/Child Care Partnership Funding Opportunity Funding opportunity for funding recaptured from underenrollment relinquishments Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) (DRS)

American Indian/Alaska Native Region 11 Overview

8 American Indian/Alaska Native Region 11 Overview 153 Grantees in 26 states 182 Grants 17,000 Head Start Funded Enrollment Slots 4,700 Early Head Start Funded Enrollment Slots 1 Collaboration Grant

9 FY2019 Tribal Consultations Top areas discussed 1.) Funding 2.) Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) 3.) Monitoring

American Indian/Alaska Native Region 11 FY20 Funding Update $299 Million $5.6Million increase for Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) $9.2 Million increase for Quality Improvement

11 COVID-19 March 13, 2020 National Emergency Declared All tribal programs significantly impacted. All center based services temporarily suspended or modified $19.2 Million Dollars allocated to tribal programs to prepare, prevent, and respond to COVID-19 through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Head Start authorized the continued payment of salaries and benefits to support remote/distance services During this time, HHS, ACF, and OHS have issued unprecedented flexibilities to alleviate administrative burdens on grantees while they focus on COVID-19 and the safety of their communities

Current Priorities COVID-19 Prepare, Prevent, Respond CARES Act Funding Full enrollment CLASS Monitoring Pilot