EHS-CCP In Depth

About EHS-CCP In Depth

In January of 2014, Congress appropriated $500 million to expand the number and quality of early learning slots for infants and toddlers. There have been three additional rounds of funding, for Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships.

This blog gives you access to tools and services that maximize success in planning for, applying for, and implementing an EHS-Child Care Partnership grant.

Tips for Managing the Delay in EHS Expansion & EHS-CCP Round 4

Jul 16, 2020

The fourth round of EHS Expansion and EHS-CCP was forecasted to open for competition on July 10, however the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) didn’t post to grants.gov and the forecast hasn’t been updated. We recognize this might create uncertainty for programs and can make planning difficult. Below are a few tips and considerations to help your program manage the delay in EHS Expansion and EHS-CCP Round 4. Plan for multiple timelines. In the absence of an updated forecast, it’s hard to...

EHS-CCP Quarterly Status Update (#2 of 4)

Jun 19, 2020

This is the second of four 2020 quarterly status updates about the Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) initiative. Learn about the timing of the upcoming grant competition and resources to prepare.

EHS Expansion & EHS-CCP Round 4 Grant Competitions Forecasted

May 20, 2020

On Monday, May 19, 2020 the upcoming Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) grant competitions were forecasted on grants.gov. Links to the forecasts for the three Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) and detailed information about the timeline are provided below. EHS Expansion and EHS-CCP Partnership Grants: Link to grant forecast Available funding: $100 million Expected number of awards: 60 Migrant and Seasonal EHS Expansion and EHS-CCP...

Make Start-up a Priority During Proposal Development

May 12, 2020

Last month, in Top 5 Tips for Success in EHS Expansion and EHS-CCP Round 4, we highlighted the importance of planning for start-up during your grant application process. In this blog post, we describe key factors to keep in mind if your program plans to request start-up funding in the next Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) grant competition. Since the FOA for the upcoming grant competition has not been posted, we recommend you start by reviewing...

Top 5 Tips for Success in EHS Expansion and EHS-CCP Round 4

Apr 7, 2020

The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the fourth round of EHS Expansion and Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership grants is expected this summer. Check out our top five tips for success in Round 4! 1. Get your data ready. EHS Expansion and EHS-CCP Round 4 is expected to be highly competitive.You will be required to provide data that demonstrates the need for funding and will want that data to be up-to-date and compelling. This is the backbone of the competitiveness of your...

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EHS-CCP In Depth Archive

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We were able to quickly turnaround one of the best grant applications we have ever submitted and in less than a month’s time. FFF helped us stay on timeline and get tasks accomplished. Having their assistance, we were able to stay focused on each task at hand and actually were able to finish ahead of the proposed timeline.

Elaina Gray

Early Childhood Services Operations Director, Sunbeam Family Services, OK

The knowledge-level and support provided by the Foundation for Families team was exceptional. Our Expansion application was successful, resulting in an additional 104 children in Douglas County being served. Additionally, I feel like we strengthened our own knowledge of HSPPS and Head Start values throughout both processes, which will have a lasting impact on all of the work we do. The FFF team has great knowledge and expertise, is highly organized, and communicates effectively. As a result, our products were of a much higher caliber than they would have been otherwise.

Shannon Cotsoradis

President & CEO, Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative

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DRS Updates

NOFOs Posted for Competitive HS/EHS Grants in New Jersey, North Dakota, and Texas

On March 14, 2023 three Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for competitive Head Start/Early Head Start grant opportunities posted on grants.gov. Applications for grants are due May 15, 2023. In addition to accessing NOFOs on grants.gov, they are downloadable from the Office of Head Start (OHS) Funding Opportunities website. Service areas with grants open for competition, estimated funding amounts, and estimated numbers of awards are listed below.

What to Expect for DRS in 2023

DRS can feel unpredictable as programs learn about deficiencies or await a grant competition. From timelines to process, it can be hard to know what to expect. In this blog post, we recap what we know about the status of DRS in 2023, from open competitions to what may come.

DRS NOFOs Posted for Four States and Applications Due January 24, 2023

On November 10, 2022, five Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for Designation Renewal System (DRS) grant opportunities posted on grants.gov. These grants were forecasted in October and were expected to post earlier this month. Applications for DRS grants are due January 24, 2023.

In addition to accessing NOFOs on grants.gov, they are downloadable from the Office of Head Start (OHS) Funding Opportunities website. Service areas with grants open for competition, estimated funding amounts, and estimated numbers of awards are summarized below.

DRS Grants Forecasted to Open for Competition in November 2022

On October 11, 2022, four of the eight Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for Designation Renewal System (DRS) grant opportunities expected this fall were forecasted on grants.gov. At the NHSA Fall Leadership Institute, the Office of Head Start (OHS) announced that DRS grant competitions will be for service areas in Puerto Rico and seven states including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.

New Section of HSPPS Allows Flexibility for DRS Determinations in Emergencies

The tenth round of DRS is coming to a close next week. If your program is competing in this round, you might be putting the final touches on your application. The application process is a lot of work. Congratulations to all who submit applications! In recent years,...

5 Tips for Successful Submission of DRS Round 10 Applications

The deadline for submission of DRS grant applications, February 2, 2022, is less than three weeks away. At this stage in the process, you are likely putting finishing touches on narrative, gathering appendix items, and planning for submission of your application. It’s the home stretch and carefully navigating the final steps of the application process will help to ensure timely and successful submission of your program’s application.

DRS Round 10 NOFOs Posted and Applications due February 2, 2022

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the tenth round of Designation Renewal System (DRS) grant competitions were announced on Grants.gov on Friday, November 19. Applications are due no later than February 2, 2021. NOFOs are available on Grants.gov by searching for Head Start grant opportunities. If you’re used to seeing “Funding Opportunity Announcement” or “FOA” in grant documents, note that the Office of Head Start has begun using NOFO instead.

DRS Round 10 Forecasted to Open for Competition November 22

The tenth round of Designation Renewal System (DRS) grant opportunities were forecasted on grants.gov in July and were expected to open for competition in September. Grants.gov has been updated to reflect a new timeline. The estimated posting date for Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) is November 22, 2021. Applications are estimated to be due on January 21, 2022.

DRS Grant Competitions Delayed and New Grants Forecasted

The upcoming round of DRS was scheduled to open for competition on September 8, 2021. The forecasts for these grants were released in July and have not been updated since then. If you’re waiting for a DRS Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) to post, new activity on grants.gov may provide some insight.

Create Efficiencies with Internal Grant Writing Expertise

The next round of DRS is right around the corner, with grants competitions forecasted for September 2021. If your program plans to compete for funding through DRS, you may be determining roles and responsibilities for grant writing and submission of your agency’s proposal.

For agencies that don’t have a clear grant writing process, you might need an external grant writer to facilitate the grant writing process from drafting to application submission. Foundations for Families offers this service, comprehensive grant writing.

Talking Points

Annual Report: Providing Enrollment Data Alongside Community Context

Head Start annual reporting is established in Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), Section §1302.102(d)(2), and is required in the Head Start Act, Section 644(a)(2). To fully address requirements, programs must include a summary of their most recent community assessment in the annual report. Including a summary of the community assessment provides an opportunity to highlight community needs and also offers a chance to provide important context related to other required areas of annual reporting.

Federal Budget Updates for Early Childhood Education Programs

There are many moving pieces to the federal budget. Understanding how funding is approved and when it becomes available can help programs prepare to respond to opportunities as they arise. In this blog post, we review the current status of federal funds related to early childhood education and what may be on the horizon for the upcoming federal fiscal year.

Community Assessment Updates Provide Important Data for Program Planning

Annual updates to Head Start/Early Head Start community assessments have taken on new significance and utility as programs navigate unprecedented staffing shortages and evolving family needs. Many programs are also planning for a Change in Scope Request, which requires a justification built on up-to-date and relevant community and program data.

How to Plan for a Successful Change in Scope Request

Underenrollment action planning is well on its way for some Head Start/Early Head Start programs, and will be soon for many more. Whether responding to an underenrollment letter that has been received, or one expected soon, submitting a Change in Scope Request to the Office of Head Start (OHS) is one strategy programs might consider to mitigate underenrollent challenges and deal with an ongoing child care workforce staffing crisis.

Underenrollment Action Planning Begins for Many HS/EHS Programs

Underenrollment is a longstanding issue faced by many Head Start/Early Head Start programs. It continues to present a major challenge for programs and is now coupled with an unprecedented child care staffing crisis. 2023 is the first year the Full Enrollment Initiative is being implemented since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and an estimated 225 grant recipients just received letters designating their program as chronically underenrolled.

Funding Highlights from 2023 NHSA Winter Leadership Institute

The 2023 National Head Start Association (NHSA) Winter Leadership Institute took place January 22-25 in Crystal City, Virginia. The conference facilitated many opportunities for collaboration and learning. Updates from the Office of Head Start (OHS) and other federal...

Exploring Inflation and Its Impact on Low-Income Households

In the United States, inflation is at an all-time high. This information probably doesn’t come as a surprise! During the summer of 2022, inflation reached 9.1%, the highest rate in four-decades. In this blog post, we explore inflation, how it affects families, and how programs serving children and families might use this data.

Making the Case for HS/EHS Enrollment Reduction or Conversion

On November 7, 2022, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued an Information Memorandum, Enrollment Reductions and Conversion of Head Start Slots to Early Head Start Slots (ACF-IM-HS-22-09), that provides guidance to Head Start/Early Head Start programs about how to submit a change in scope and the factors that programs should take into consideration for such a request.

Insights on Process and Content to Help Prepare for FY2023 Focus Area Reviews

As programs settle into the new program year, many are looking ahead to Head Start/Early Head Start monitoring reviews. Reviews are around the corner, as Focus Area Two will begin in October, followed by Focus Area One in November. This is the time of year when the Office of Head Start (OHS) releases updated monitoring protocols and guidance for programs to consider.