To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Update on Head Start Programs and Oversight & Annual Grant Application
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
CONSIDER accepting the monthly update on the activities and oversight of the County's Head Start Program; APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to submit a continuation grant application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS), to provide Head Start and/or Early Head Start services to eligible children and families, in an award amount up to $20,577,342 for the budget period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to submit a Head Start and Early Head Start budget revision to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ACF, OHS, to reprogram costs in the amount of $3,502,273 from Early Head Start to Head Start for the project period ending June 30, 2025, and provide guidance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Grant Application: $20,577,342: 100% Federal funding all of which will be budgeted in FY25/26. Budget Revision: $3,502,273: 100% Federal funding all of which was budgeted for FY24/25.
BACKGROUND:
First, the County is applying for a noncompetitive annual continuation grant for Program Year 25-26 to continue the provision of Head Start services throughout the County for children and families with low incomes. The continuation application is due April 1, 2025. The Board previously approved and authorized the Employment and Human Services Director to accept grant funding for Award #09CH012839-01-00 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start annually for five years through June 30, 2029 (24-2975). Second, the County is submitting a budget revision for FY24/25 to reallocate funding from directly operated services to contracted services. Third, per Board Resolution No. 2023/274, the Board receives monthly updates on and provides guidance related to the activities of the Head Start program. This is the update for March 2025.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County will not be in compliance with Head Start program requirements, which may jeopardize funding and successful 2024-2029 grant implementation.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The services provided under this contract support all five of Contra Costa County's community outcomes: (1)"Children Ready for and Succeeding in School"; (2) "Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood"; (3) "Families that are Economically Self-Sufficient"; (4) "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing"; and (5) "Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families".