With the release of the new Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) you might be wondering, what does this mean for Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) grantees? Or, what does it mean if my agency just applied for a Round 2 EHS-CCP grant? The short answer – which the Office of Head Start (OHS) responded to on their recent webcast regarding the release of the new standards – is that all programs, Head Start (HS), Early Head Start (EHS), and EHS-CCP programs, are required to become compliant with the new standards. Funding requirements for specific grant programs, such as EHS-CCP, matter so you will still need to pay attention to this as well.
If you’re an existing EHS-CCP grantee you’re probably already in touch with your child care partners about the release of the new HSPPS and will be developing plans to help programs achieve the new standards. We’re waiting to learn about supports available from OHS. Keep an eye on our Head Start Redesignation sister blog where we’ll post updates specifically related to the new HSPPS.
If you submitted a proposal for EHS-CCP Round 2 funds, here are a few tips for how you might prepare for award in light of the new HSPPS.
Provide an update to your proposed child care partners on the release of the new HSPPS. Let your proposed partners know the new standards have been released. Link them to the standards and supplementary information provided by OHS. Since HS and EHS isn’t completely their world (yet!) they may not have all of the information that you do about the release of the new standards.
Talk with your proposed partners to answer questions and flag areas of concern. In advance of award, it will be helpful to know if your proposed partners have any concerns about achieving the new standards. You might not have all of the answers now since this is new for all of us, but as you develop plans for your existing EHS and HS programs to meet the new standards you will learn information that can be shared with your proposed child care partners. As you receive new information consider forwarding it to your proposed partners so that they stay in the loop.
Consider the impact of the new standards on your budget and project design. It will be helpful, in advance of award, to have done some exploring into how the new standards could impact your proposed budget and project design. While you’re providing support and resources to your existing programs, keep your proposed child care partners in mind. Make notes about whether they may need different or additional supports. This will help you to hit the ground running upon award.
As mentioned above, Foundations for Families’ Head Start Redesignation blog is a great place to find up to date information about the new HSPPS (and other HS and EHS topics of interest)!
Thank you.
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Foundations for Families offers EHS-CCP grantees targeted technical assistance and strength-based coaching of key start-up staff. We have helped multiple organizations design, plan for, and draft successful proposals for EHS-CCP. Please be in touch with Amy Augenblick, Executive Director, at 703-599-4329 or [email protected] to learn about how we can support you and your program.