Recently, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued an important Information Memorandum (IM): Policy and Program Guidance for Early Head Start – Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CCP).
You may see it referenced ACF-IM-HS-15-03 and the associated date is 8/6/15.
The IM itself is short. It reminds us all of the EHS-CCP program outcomes:
- Sustained, mutually respectful, and collaborative EHS-CCP
- A more highly educated and fully qualified workforce to provide high-quality infant/toddler care and education
- Increased community supply of high-quality early learning environments and infant/toddler care and education
- Well-aligned early childhood policies, regulations, resources, and quality improvement support at national, state, and local levels
- Improved family and child well-being and progress toward school readiness
The guidance itself comes in Attachment A. Attachment A is very important.
Attachment A gives clarification and intent in some of the most challenging areas. We know that several of you, EHS-CCP grantees, have been challenged by all of these during the initial months of your award.
Attachment A covers and gives lots of links to resources on these topics:
- Partnership Agreements
- Layered Funding
- Child Care Subsidies
- Citizenship and Immigration Status
- Child Care Center Ratios and Group Sizes
- Family Child Care Group Size
- Staffing and Planning Shifts for Staff
- Staff Qualifications and Credential Requirements
- Federal Oversight and Monitoring
We will be looking into each of these areas over the next couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, if you are in need of general start-up implementation support or focused help on a particular topic please be in touch. We would be glad to discuss your situation and find ways we can work together with you toward the success of your EHS-CCP program.
Thank you.
Contact Us
Foundations for Families offers EHS-CCP grantees targeted technical assistance and strength-based coaching of key start-up staff. We provides training, technical assistance and consulting services to grantees, state and regional organizations and associations, and the child care industry. We help agencies respond to DRS with comprehensive and strategic grant writing services. Please be in touch with Amy Augenblick at 703-599-4329 or [email protected] to learn about how we can support you and your program.