DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Head Start Briefing Item
SUMMARY:
This item presents the following Head Start grants item:
1. Program and Fiscal Briefing for March 2017
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 (DHS) Head Start grants.
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Human Services (DHS) Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grants 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 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.
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, DHS provides direct program management, oversight, training, technical assistance, governance, family support and mental wellness services. Furthermore, DHS 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.
ISSUE:
This item provides a briefing to the Neighborhoods and Livability Committee on the following item:
Program and Fiscal Briefing for March 2017 - The Head Start Act requires grantees to report monthly program and fiscal indicators for Head Start and Early Head Start Programs, including: monthly enrollment and waiting list data; meals and snacks served; average daily attendance; physical examinations completed; completion of home visits and family needs assessments; and fiscal indicators. The program utilizes established benchmark guidelines to gauge the program’s progress toward federal Head Start and Early Head Start goal targets and minimum requirements.
On a consistent basis, the Early Head Start and Head Start Programs have met or exceeded monthly enrollment, waiting list, and attendance requirements. Throughout the program year, physical examinations, home visits and family needs assessments are tracked cumulatively to reach a goal of 100% with allowable documented exceptions.
ALTERNATIVES:
The review and approval of 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:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Monthly Program and Fiscal Briefing