ACF Awards Approximately $115 Million in Head Start funds to Serve About 5,000 More Children

Last week, the Administration for Children and Families announced $200 million in funds for early care and education –  almost $87 million in new PDG B-5 awards and almost $115 million in new Head Start grants. The awards break down as: 

• $94,748,066 for Head Start and Early Head Start 
• $10,651,502 for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS)
• $9,551,717 for American Indian Alaskan Native (AI/AN)

These new grants will serve an additional 5,000 children. This new funding comes as programs are implementing the new Head Start rule, which among other changes, improves compensation for Head Start staff, strengthens mental health services for both children and adults in the program, and expands eligibility in areas with high cost of living. Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris administration also signed into law two changes that give MSHS and AI/AN Head Start programs more flexibility to enroll children. AI/AN programs can now prioritize enrolling children who are tribal members or who live with tribal members, regardless of family income. MSHS programs can now serve children who have at least one family member primarily engaged in agricultural employment, regardless of income. 

ACF says about two-thirds of the funds will be used for Early Head Start, which serves infants, toddlers, and expectant families. This includes the Early Head Start – Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CCP) program, which allows EHS grantees to partner with local child care providers, both home-based and center-based, to improve the quality of care and expand the benefits of EHS. EHS-CCP grantees help their child care partners meet Head Start Program Performance Standards and ensure they have access to comprehensive wraparound services, such as developmental screenings related to children’s health.

FFYF commends the administration on its continued commitment to improving access to quality early care and education services.