Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grants - Multiple Communities in GA, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, VA, WI
This funding provides financial support to organizations in select states to expand early childhood education and care services for low-income infants and toddlers, ensuring they receive essential developmental, educational, and health services.
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is accepting applications for the Early Head Start (EHS) Expansion and Early Head Start-Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnership Grants, under funding opportunity number HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-HP-0125. This funding aims to provide high-quality, comprehensive services to low-income infants, toddlers, and their families in selected communities across nine U.S. states. Funding is designed to support either the expansion of existing Early Head Start programs or the creation of EHS-CC partnerships, which integrate EHS services with local child care providers. Approximately $29.2 million is available for up to 20 awards, with an average project award of $1 million per budget period, subject to a 60-month project term starting July 1, 2025. Applications are due by January 6, 2025. The purpose of this grant is to enhance early childhood education and support services for young children and families facing economic disadvantages. EHS-CC Partnerships aim to expand access to full-day, full-year child care, especially for working families, by integrating EHS standards with local child care providers. The program's objectives include providing a range of developmental, educational, health, and nutrition services that are critical to preparing children for school readiness and long-term success. A special emphasis is placed on building a sustainable infrastructure within community childcare settings to continue high-quality services. Eligible applicants include public and private non-profit organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations, as well as for-profit entities, as long as they can provide EHS services to eligible families. Applicants must apply within designated service areas and ensure that at least 10% of enrollment serves children with disabilities. Additional eligibility considerations include community need, existing relationships with local child care providers, and demonstration of the organizational capacity to meet Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS). To apply, applicants must submit a comprehensive application package that includes the SF-424 form, budget details, proof of eligibility, project description, and various certifications. The application must be electronically submitted via Grants.gov, formatted according to ACF specifications, and include a detailed plan addressing community need, project objectives, staffing and compensation, and program infrastructure. Page limitations apply, and adherence to formatting guidelines is required. Applicants proposing EHS-CC partnerships must outline plans for child care partner engagement and provide specific budgets for anticipated start-up and operational expenses. Applications will be evaluated on criteria including community need, program design, staffing, infrastructure, and cost-effectiveness. Priority consideration is given to proposals that address underserved areas, particularly Qualified Opportunity Zones, and that demonstrate readiness for prompt implementation. ACF may conduct pre-award discussions to clarify any details related to budgets or service delivery before finalizing awards. Award announcements are expected after application reviews and financial assessments are completed. Recipients will be required to submit regular performance and financial reports to maintain compliance. Additional information and resources for applicants are available on the ACF website and through Grants.gov.
Award Range
$1,224,493 - $29,221,775
Total Program Funding
$29,221,775
Number of Awards
20
Matching Requirement
Yes - For all federal awards, any shared costs or matching funds and all contributions, including cash and third-party in-kind contributions, must be accepted as part of the recipient’s cost sharing or matching when such contributions meet all criteria listed in 45 CFR § 75.306. For awards that require matching by statute, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards, even if the projected commitment exceeds the amount required by the statutory match. A recipient’s failure to provide the statutorily required matching amount may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports. For awards that do not require matching or cost sharing by statute, where “cost sharing” refers to any situation in which the recipient voluntarily shares in the costs of a project other than as statutorily required matching, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards. These include situations in which contributions are voluntarily proposed by a recipient or subrecipient and are accepted by ACF. Non-federal cost sharing will be included in the approved project budget so that the recipient will be held accountable for proposed non-federal cost sharing funds as shown in the Notice of Award (NoA). A recipient’s failure to provide voluntary cost sharing of non-federal resources that have been accepted by ACF as part of the approved project costs and that have been shown as part of the approved project budget in the NoA may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Eligible applicants are any public or private non-profit agencies, including community-based and faith-based organizations, or for-profit agencies pursuant to section 645A(d) of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9840A(d).Eligibility is limited to public or private non-profit organizations, including faith-based organizations or for-profit organizations that can provide Early Head Start services to children and families.Entities operating Head Start programs are eligible to operate Early Head Start programs. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
September 3, 2024
Application Closes
January 6, 2025
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