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. 2016-2017 Department of Human Services Head Start Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) Policy updates for approval
2. 2016-2017 Department of Human Services Head Start Shared Governance Training
3. Program and Fiscal Briefing for December 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 Neighborhoods and Livability Committee and the Head Start Policy Council provide shared governance oversight of the Department of Human Services (DHS) Head Start and Early Head Start grants.
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, 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. 2016-2017 DHS Head Start ERSEA Policy updates- Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) require Governing Body approval of ERSEA Policy updates. Ten (10) ERSEA policies have been reviewed and updated by staff and Head Start Policy Council members to directly reflect the new HSPPS. One (1) new ERSEA Policy has been created in response to newly enacted requirements related to expulsion and suspension. The 2016-2017 ERSEA Policy Updates were approved by the Head Start Policy Council on January 24, 2017.
2. 2016-2017 DHS Head Start Shared Governance Training- This item also reviews shared governance responsibilities. The governing body, partnering with Head Start Policy Council and key management staff, develop, review, and approve Head Start Program policies and planning items as required by Section 642(c)(1)(E) of the Head Start Act.
3. Program and Fiscal Briefing for December 2016 - Additionally, this item provides a monthly program and fiscal briefing for the month of December 2016. The report includes a status of enrollment, meals served, family and community support, health, education, and fiscal indicators.
ALTERNATIVES:
Review and approval of 2016-2017 DHS Head Start ERSEA Policy updates is required for program compliance with the HHS 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 items included in this memorandum.