DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership Continuation Application
SUMMARY:
The Department of Human Services (DHS) requests authorization of the following budgetary, grant and associated actions related to a continuation application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) program:
a) submission of a continuation application to HHS, and acceptance upon award, of $2,656,800.00 for the period of August 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017;
b) an EHS-CCP program budget of $3,321,000.00, which includes an in-kind match of $664,200.00 and a personnel complement of 20 positions for DHS;
c) approval for the Director of DHS to execute any and all documents related to acceptance of this grant, to include acceptance of additional grant funds, if awarded and matching funds are available in the City’s budget
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
DHS manages Head Start programs and Child Care Services programs. These programs provide early care and education and support services to more than 11,000 children and their families on a daily basis.
In April 2015, through City Council Ordinance No. 2015-04-02-0232, DHS accepted funds from HHS to establish an EHS-CCP, an HHS-funded early childhood education and development program for low-income families with infants and toddlers (ages 6 weeks to 35 months). EHS provides children with safe and enriching learning environments to promote physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development while supporting parents and families by addressing social and economic needs through customized case management and supports.
The EHS - CCP supports a two-generation strategy by allowing parents to work or engage in training or education, while providing access to high-quality early childhood education and care for very young children. As grantee, DHS provides program management, oversight, governance, family support and mental wellness services.
During the 2016-2017 program year, DHS will execute contracts with five or more child care center partners to provide early education and care in order to fully enroll the 216 funded slots. Upon grant award, DHS will seek City Council authorization to enter into agreements with the identified child care center partners, as well as the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) and University Health System (UHS) to provide health and dental services to enrolled children.
ISSUE:
On March 11, 2016, the City received notification from HHS to apply for a continuation application to provide EHS-CCP services for the 216 inner-city children.
This ordinance authorizes the submission of a grant application and accepts upon award, $2,656,800.00 from HHS for the period of August 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017, and authorizes an in-kind match of $664,200.00. The 2016-2017 personnel complement will allow for two additional Management Analyst positions to enhance environmental health and safety monitoring and improve ongoing compliance monitoring program requirements. If authorized by council, the application will be submitted to HHS on May 1, 2016.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this ordinance is not approved, HHS would need to identify an alternate grantee to provide EHS-CCP services for the 216 inner-city children.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes acceptance of a grant award from HHS in the amount of $2,656,800.00 for the period of August 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017; authorizes an in-kind match of $664,200.00 which will be provided by the City and contracted providers. Contractual funding will be allocated from the Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership Grant.
There is no anticipated impact to the general fund as a result of these actions.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance which requests authorization of budgetary, grant and associated actions related to a grant award for the EHS-CCP Grant Award from HHS.