Early Childhood Integrated Financing Toolkit

Early Head Start/ Head Start
Federal Funding Streams: Requirements and Detailed Information
Federal Agency: Administered by the Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesFederal Early Head Start/Head Start Funding for VA: $133.5 million in FY 2017 | |
What Are the Main Requirements? | How do Federal Funds Flow? |
Purpose:These programs are designed to promote positive early childhood development and school readiness for children from low-income families, who are in foster care, have disabilities, are experiencing homelessness, or are receiving public assistance in partnership with their families (using a two-generation model of child and family supports).
Eligibility: • Early Head Start may begin as early as prenatally (through home | Federal Head Start/Early Head Start funding is awarded directly to local grantees for 5 year periods.
Each state has a Head Start State Collaboration Director, but they do not have oversight of grantees. Instead grantees are managed by Head Start Regional Offices. VA grantees receive oversight from the OHS Regional Office in Philadelphia.
Grantees may be any local public or private nonprofit agency, including community-based and faith-based organizations, school districts, or a for-profit agency. (Note: States are eligible to compete for EHS and EHS-child care partnership grants.)
Grantees who are found to be deficient in meeting Head Start Performance Standards, and/or are facing other specific criteria may have to compete for their funding through a competitive process. Competitions may also be run if Congress provides additional funding.
Organizations seeking Head Start funding must respond to a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the Federal Office of Head Start in order to receive funding. In most cases, the FOA specifies the city or county in which the children and families must be served. Applicants can specify a geographic area within the city or county, based on a community needs assessment.Funding Opportunity Announcements specify the amount of funding available per service area and may be found here:https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs/fundingand herehttps://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants
Potential grantees must apply to and negotiate directly with the OHS Regional Office to serve children and families in a specific geographic area, based on a community needs assessment.
A grantee may deliver services in multiple sites and contract with “delegate” agencies to serve children. |