DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Head Start Grant Refunding Application
SUMMARY:
The Department of Human Services (DHS) requests approval of the following grant and budgetary actions for the City’s Head Start program:
a) Submission of a grant application and associated grant documents to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and acceptance upon award of an amount up to $23,356,121 for the period of February 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020;
b) A total program budget of $29,195,151, including an in-kind match of $5,839,030 and a personnel complement of 87 positions for DHS;
c) Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Human Services to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents including a grant contract and contract amendments accepting: a) carryover funds, approved by Health and Human Services through a revised notice of award; b) line item budget revisions authorized by the funding agency; c) modifications to the performance measures authorized by the funding agency and listed in the contract so long as the terms of the amendment stay within the general parameters of the intent of the grant; d) no-cost extensions; e) supplemental grant funds in an amount up to 20% of the total amount awarded to the grant; f) reimbursement increases of administrative costs for each participant served; g) amendments funding one time equipment purchases or defined program services; h) changes in regulations mandated by the funding agency if awarded and matching funds are available in City’s budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Head Start program is a federally-funded early childhood education and development program administered by HHS. The Head Start program provides education, family support, and medical services to eligible children between the ages of three and five, and their families. The Department of Human Services’ Head Start program provides high quality program services to 3,020 children and their families in 19 Head Start centers located in San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) and Edgewood Independent School District (EISD).
The City of San Antonio has served as a grantee for the Head Start Program for over 35 years. The program serves children at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level and prioritizes the most vulnerable children, including those with disabilities, homeless, and children in the foster care system. The Head Start Program provides direct program management, oversight, governance, family and community support, and mental wellness services and contracts with SAISD and EISD for the provision of educational services.
ISSUE:
On August 31, 2018, DHS received notification from HHS of available funding, for the first year of the new five year period, in the amount of $23,356,121, for the period of February 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020. This ordinance authorizes budgetary, grant, and contract related items to ensure continuation of Head Start Program services for the period of February 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020. Funding will provide for DHS’s operational costs and provision of direct family and community support and mental wellness services, including a personnel complement of 87 positions, and service provider operations.
The grant application is due to HHS on November 1, 2018. The 2019-2020 Head Start grant application was approved by Head Start Policy Council on September 25, 2018. Awarded grant funds for the 2019-2020 Program Year will provide for the continuation of the Head Start Program services and the City’s policy of enhancing early childhood education. The total personnel complement of 87 positions reflects a decrease of 8 vacant positions from the prior year complement of 95.
Of the 87 positions, 43 positions are Family Support Workers and 3 are Senior Family Support Workers that will support 3,020 children and their families in 19 Head Start centers located in San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) and Edgewood Independent School District (EISD). Currently, each Family Support Worker may assist up to 69 children and families; of these it is anticipated approximately 30% of families will need a higher level of mental health support. Each Senior Family Support Worker will assist up to 20 children and families with intensive mental health and behavioral counseling, case management and social-emotional development education.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this ordinance is not approved, SAISD and EISD would not be able to provide full-day funding for the Early Childhood Education (ECE’s) classrooms. This may delay the provision of services to the community and negatively impact currently enrolled children and families.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the submission of a grant application and acceptance upon award from HHS in the amount of $23,356,121 including in-kind match of $5,839,030 from San Antonio Independent School District, Edgewood ISD, other Head Start contractors, and the City’s Human Services Department for a total program budget of $29,195,151. This grant is for the period of February 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020 and will fund a personnel complement of 87 DHS positions.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing submission of a grant application, and associated grant documents, and acceptance of funds upon award, a budget, associated program personnel complement.