DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Head Start Briefing and Approval Items
SUMMARY:
This item presents the following Head Start grants items:
1. 2017-2018 Department of Human Services requesting endorsement to move Head Start Grant Refunding Application forward to full City Council for Approval
2. 2016-2017 Department of Human Services Head Start and Early Head Start- Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) Program Center Enrollment Plans for Approval
3. 2015-2106 Department of Human Services Head Start and EHS-CCP Program Information Report (PIR)
4. Program and Fiscal Briefing for July and August 2016
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires that recipients of Head Start grants provide monthly briefings on program and fiscal activities and ongoing training throughout the program year to their governing bodies. The City’s Neighborhoods and Livability Committee and the Head Start Policy Council provide shared governance oversight of the Department of Human Services Head Start grants. This item further provides training information for the Grant Refunding requirements.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Department of Human Services (DHS) Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grant programs are federally funded programs administered by HHS. The programs provide early childhood education, family support, and comprehensive support services to eligible children between the ages of six weeks and five years, and their families.
The Head Start Program serves children at or below the federal poverty line and prioritizes the most vulnerable children, including those with disabilities, experiencing homelessness, and children in the foster care system. The program serves a total of 3,020 children: 777 children in the Edgewood Independent School District (EISD) and 2,243 children in the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD). As the program grantee, the Department of Human Services (DHS) provides direct program management, oversight, training and technical assistance, governance, family support and mental wellness services and contracts with EISD and SAISD for the provision of educational and disability services, the Metropolitan Health District for dental services, and University Health System for health services.
The Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership grant provides early childhood education and development for low-income families with infants and toddlers (ages 6 weeks to 35 months). DHS partners with six non-profit child care centers to expand access to high-quality comprehensive services for 216 low-income infants and toddlers and their families.
ISSUE:
This item requests approval from the Neighborhoods and Livability Committee of the following items:
1. 2017-2018 DHS Head Start Refunding Application - Head Start Performance Standards require the Governing Body to review and approve the Head Start Refunding Application. On August 11, 2016, DHS received award notification from HHS of available funding in the amount of $22,483,945 for the period of February 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018 for the continuation of DHS services. The refunding application and associated grant documents are due to HHS by November 1, 2016; the Head Start Policy Council approved the application on September 27, 2016. Upon NLC committee endorsement, City Council will review and approve the refunding application on October 20, 2016. Head Start regulations require that training information for various Head Start items be provided to NLC. This item shares information on Grant Refunding requirements.
2. 2016-2017 DHS Head Start Center Enrollment Plans- The 2016-2017 Center Enrollment Plans reflect a total of 26 Head Start centers, 23 in SAISD and three in EISD. EHS-CCP reflect a total of 6 EHS-CCP centers, 5 in SAISD service area and one in EISD service area. Through collaboration with local school districts and centers, the Head Start and EHS-CCP programs provide a full day of program instruction to enrolled children. Both programs are currently at 100% enrollment, with 3,236 children enrolled.
3. 2015-2016 DHS Head Start Program Information Report (PIR) - Head Start and Early Head Start programs are required to submit an annual Program Information Report (PIR). The PIR is an important source of descriptive program and service data and is available to the general public, the Head Start community, and Congress.
4. Program and Fiscal Briefing for July and August 2016 - Additionally, this item provides a monthly program and fiscal briefings for the month of July and August 2016. The report includes a status of enrollment, meals served, family and community support, health, education, and fiscal indicators.
ALTERNATIVES:
The review and approval of the items included in this memorandum are required for program compliance with the Department of Health and Human Services rules and regulations for Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no anticipated impact to the general fund as a result of these actions.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the item included in this memorandum.