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. Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) Eligibility Training
2. ERSEA Selection Point Matrix for approval
3. Program and Fiscal Briefing for January 2017
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Department of Human Services (DHS) Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grant program are federally funded programs administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (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.
Head Start Training and Action Item:
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. 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. Additionally, the Head Start Act requires criteria for selection and enrolling participants be approved by the Policy Council and Governing Body on an annual basis.
ISSUE:
This item provides training and a briefing to the Neighborhoods and Livability Committee on the following items:
1. DHS Head Start ERSEA Eligibility Training- The program is required to provide the governing body training on ERSEA Eligibility. This five step process displays how Head Start and Early Head Start programs establish eligibility, recruit, select, enroll and track attendance for children and families. The Neighborhood and Livability Committee as a governing body partners with the Head Start Policy Council and key management staff to develop, review, and approve Head Start Program ERSEA eligibility determination as required by the Head Start Performance Standards Section 1302.12(m).
This item also requests Neighborhoods and Livability Committee approval of the following items:
2. 2017-2018 DHS Head Start ERSEA Selection Point Matrix- The ERSEA Selection Point Matrix is reviewed annually to reflect community assessment and demographics to prioritize enrollment of children and families with the greatest need for the 2017-2018 school year.
Revisions to the Head Start Selection Point Matrix include increased points for children transitioning from Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership to Head Start, children with Disabilities who have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) and priority is given to 3 year olds.
Revisions to the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Matrix include increased points for children enrolled in Child Care Services (CCS).
Head Start recruitment and application events begin in March, 2017, and continue throughout the program year. The Head Start Policy Council approved the Selection Point Matrix on February 28, 2017.
3. Program and Fiscal Briefing for January 2017 - Additionally, this item provides a monthly program and fiscal briefing for the month of January 2017. The report includes a status of enrollment, meals served, family and community support, health, education, and fiscal indicators.
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:
Staff recommends approval of the items included in this memorandum.