DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Head Start Briefing Items
SUMMARY:
This item presents the following from the Department of Human Services (DHS) Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership programs for briefing without action required:
1. Briefing on the 2019-2020 DHS Head Start Program Partnership Agreement and Parent Handbook
2. Briefing on the 2018-2019 DHS Head Start Program Information Reports
3. Briefing on the EHS-CCP Governance, Leadership, and Oversight Screener
4. Briefing on the 2019-2020 Head Start Program Certification of Health and Safety Screenings
5. Briefing on the September 2019 DHS, Head Start Program Update and Fiscal Report
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires recipients of Head Start grants to provide regular briefings on program and fiscal activities and ongoing training throughout the program year to their governing body, City Council, and to the Head Start Policy Council. While City Council must maintain its legal and fiscal responsibilities, it has authorized the Community Health and Equity Committee to oversee other key responsibilities.
The Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) 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 DHS, Head Start Grant 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 mission is to prepare children and engage families for school readiness and lifelong success. The City of San Antonio 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, Head Start provides direct program management, oversight, training and technical assistance, governance, family support and mental wellness services. The comprehensive services approach positively impacts families and holistically addresses the needs of the children. DHS, Head Start also contracts with EISD and SAISD for the provision of educational and disability services, the Metropolitan Health District for dental services and University of the Incarnate Word 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). Early Head Start 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:
Rules and regulations for the Head Start and Early Start-Child Care Partnership grants as set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) require the Governing Body (City Council) and the Head Start Policy Council to review programmatic actions and City Council has authorized the Community Health and Equity Committee to oversee certain key responsibilities:
1. Briefing on the 2019-2020 DHS Head Start Program Partnership Agreement and Parent Handbook (Attachment A) - The HSPPS Section 1302.52 require the program to implement a family partnership process that includes a family partnership to support family well-being, including family safety, health, and economic stability, to support child learning and development, to provide, if applicable, services and supports for children with disabilities, and to foster parental confidence and skills that promote the early learning and development of their children. The Head Start Policy Council reviewed the Head Start Program Partnership Agreement and Parent Handbook on September 24, 2019.
2. Briefing on the 2018-2019 DHS Head Start Program Information Reports (Attachment B) The Head Start Act 642(d)(2)(I) requires the program to submit an annual Program Information Report (PIR) annually to the Office of Head Start and ensure the accurate and regular information is shared the Governing Body. The PIR is an important source of descriptive program and service data and is available to the general public, the Head Start community, and Congress. The Head Start Policy Council reviewed the Head Start Program Information Reports on September 24, 2019.
3. Briefing on the EHS-CCP Governance, Leadership, and Oversight Screener (Attachment C) - According to the EHS-CCP Notice of Award in the Governance Section, the program must conduct a screening of the organization’s governance and leadership capacity within 60 calendar days of the start of the project period. The program must complete a certification that the governance and leadership capacity screening was conducted and a training plan was developed within 75 days of the start of the project period. The Head Start Policy Council reviewed this item on September 24, 2019.
4. Briefing on the 2019-2020 Head Start Program Certification of Health and Safety Screenings (Attachment D) - According to the Head Start and EHS-CCP Notice of Awards in the Health and Safety Section, the program must conduct a screening of the health and safety environment of each center where services are provided within 45 days of the start of the school year; and Complete a certification of compliance with all Office of Head Start (OHS) health and safety requirements within 75 days of the start of the school year. The document attests twenty-one Head Start campuses and six Child Care centers are in full compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards and Regulations for the Health and Safety Screening. The Head Start Policy Council reviewed this item on October 22, 2019.
5. Briefing on the September 2019 Head Start Program Updates and Fiscal Report (Attachment E) - The Head Start Act 642(d)(2)(A-E) requires the program share accurate and regular information with the governing body and in accordance with the Head Start Act Sec 642(c)(1)(E). The report includes a status on the monthly program report, activities for the programs, and fiscal briefing for the month of September 2019.
ALTERNATIVES:
The review of the items included in this memorandum are required for program compliance with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rules and regulations for Head Start and Early Head Start- Child Care Partnership programs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no anticipated impact to the general fund as a result of these actions.
RECOMMENDATION:
These items are for briefing purposes only.