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 $2,703,456.00 for the period of August 1, 2017 - July 31, 2018;
b) an EHS-CCP program budget of $3,379,321.00, which includes an in-kind match of $675,865.00 and a personnel complement of 16 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 both the Child Care Services and Head Start program grants. 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 program, an HHS-funded early childhood education and development program for low-income families with infants and toddlers (ages 6 weeks to 35 months). EHS-CCP 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 program supports a two-generation strategy by allowing parents to work or remain in school while providing access to high-quality early childhood education and care for very young children. As the grantee, DHS provides program management, oversight, governance, family support and mental wellness services.
DHS contracts with six child care centers located in the Edgewood (EISD) and San Antonio Independent School Districts (SAISD) to provide direct program services in the inner city’s empowerment zone to provide early education and care: Blessed Sacrament Academy, Ella Austin Community Center, Healy-Murphy Center, Inc., Inman Christian Center, Seton Home, and Young Women’s Christian Association Olga Madrid Center. DHS also partners with the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (SAMHD) and University Health System (UHS) to provide health and dental services to enrolled children. Through this continued partnership, DHS serves 216 low-income infants and toddlers within the inner-city.
ISSUE:
On February 2017, the City received notification from HHS to apply for a continuation application to provide EHS-CCP service for the 216 inner-city children. If authorized by City Council, the application will be submitted to HHS on May 1, 2017.
The grant funds awarded for the 2017-2018 program year will provide for the continuation of the EHS-CCP program services and further the City’s goals to improve the education and skill level of the children and their families. Funding will support DHS operational costs including the provision of direct family and community support services and service provider operations. Through completion of the continuation application, the EHS-CCP program will ensure all child care centers continue to meet Federal Head Start Performance Standards.
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 and their families.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes acceptance of a grant award from HHS in the amount of $2,703,456.00 for the period of August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018, and authorizes an in-kind match of $675,865.00 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.