Head Start Funding Opportunities Now Available

Today, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of Head Start funding in 97 Head Start service areas across the country. The funding opportunities announced today are open to all eligible organizations, and applicants have 90 days to submit their grant proposals online through www.Grants.gov.

 

The funding opportunity announcements will be released in two groups. The Office of Head Start is using this approach to plan potential transitions at natural breaks in services, minimizing disruptions to children, families and staff. Funding opportunity announcements for the first group of service areas are available today and are posted on ACF’s Funding Opportunities site. Additional funding opportunity announcements will be available in May.

 

In an effort to provide relevant information and support for all applicants, the Office of Head Start has created an Applicant Support Website. This interactive website offers a robust collection of resources intended to support organizations in gaining a deeper understanding of the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, the funding opportunity announcement, and the evaluation criteria for health and safety, fiscal integrity, and measures of Head Start classroom quality.

Act 1132 of 1997 established the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education within the Arkansas Department of Human Services. The purpose of the Division is to enhance the coordination of child care and early childhood education programs within the state. This coordination ensures a seamless delivery of early childhood and child care services to low-income families and those who are moving from welfare to work. Through the licensing and accreditation unit, the Division also works to ensure that child care centers and family child care homes meet state minimum licensing standards and supports programs that voluntarily want to achieve higher-quality standards. The Division, working with the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission, adopted the following mission statement: As good stewards of the public trust, the Early Childhood Commission will support and advise the Division by ensuring that all Arkansas children and families have access to a safe, high-quality, developmentally appropriate (nurturing learning) environment (and) by educating and assisting parents, child care providers, and communities to prepare our children for future success.

Below you will find the programs and services offered by the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. Click the name for a link to additional information.