(1)
General Scope and Purpose:
The Head Start State Collaboration grant establishes a state-level office (The
Georgia Head Start State Collaboration Office) for Head Start programs in
Georgia, for the purpose of building collaborative partnerships between
federally funded Head Start programs and state-funded early childhood programs
to improve the quality of services to low-income children and their families in
Georgia. The Head Start grant coordinates federal initiatives for children and
families with Pre-K programs and other state-funded child and family programs
across the state. These coordinated efforts are intended to assist in building
seamless, comprehensive early childhood systems and access to services and
support for all low-income children. The Head Start grant also facilitates the
involvement of Head Start in the development of state policies and initiatives
affecting the Head Start target population and other low-income families.
To accomplish its purpose, the Head Start State Collaboration
grant provides contracts for activities that support the collaboration of early
care and education programs, including extended services to local Head Start
programs to ensure that Head Start and Pre-K service delivery models are
compatible in local communities across the state. Local Head Start programs
submit proposals for collaborative activities for "at-risk" children and their
families. These proposals are reviewed and decisions are made, in consultation
with the state Head Start Association and the federal Administration for
Children and Families.
(2)
General Terms and Conditions: The state agency that receives
funding for the Head Start State Collaboration grant shall appoint an
individual to serve as the State Liaison between the appropriate Regional
Office of the Administration of Children and Families and agencies and
individuals charged with the responsibility of administering Head Start
programs in the state. The state agency that administers the Head Start State
Collaboration grant musts adhere to the Department of Health and Human
Services' regulations that govern federal Head Start programs. The state agency
must ensure that the collaboration described in Section (1) involves
coordination of Head Start services with health care, welfare, child care
education and community service activities, family literacy services,
activities relating to children disabilities, including coordination of
services with those State officials who are responsible for administering Part
C and Section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C.
1431 - 1445,
1419) and
services for homeless children.
(3)
Eligible Recipients: The eligible recipient for the Head Start
State Collaboration grant is any state education or human services agency that
is responsible for providing services to low-income children and families
within the state. Eligible recipients for collaborative contracts are any legal
educational or childcare entity, such as a local school system, a public or
private not-for-profit [501©(3)] agency, or a private for-profit
agency as described in
591-2-1-.01.
(4)
Application Process:
Interested applicants for collaborative contracts must contact the Head Start
State Collaboration Office, housed within Bright from the Start: Georgia
Department of Early Care and Learning, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite
754 East Tower, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. Interested applicants must submit a
one-page concept paper that includes detailed information regarding the scope
of services to be provided under the contract.
(5)
Approximate time to apply:
Applicants must submit the one-page concept paper in July of each year, prior
to the beginning of the school year in August. Contracts are for the current
school year only, and are in effect from August 1 through June 30 of each
year.
(6)
Criteria for Grant
Award: Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and
Learning has been selected by the Governor's Office in Georgia as the recipient
of the State Head Start Collaboration grant. The grant, which is received from
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is for a five-year period,
coinciding with the federal fiscal year. Contracts administered by the State
Head Start Collaboration Office are subject to funding availability, previous
program compliance and identified needs of local programs, Bright from the
Start, the Georgia Head Start Association and the federal Administration for
Children and Families, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
(7)
Calculation of
Payment: The federal Head Start State Collaboration grant budget is for
$175,000 per year for a five-year period. The Department of Early Care and
Learning and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services review budgets
for contracts administered by the Head Start Collaboration Office for
appropriateness. Collaborative contracts are calculated based on the number of
children to be served.
(8)
Length of Award: The federal Head Start State Collaboration grant
is awarded to Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and
Learning for a five-year period. At the end of each five-year period, a full
application for renewal must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. Collaborative contracts are awarded each fiscal year.
(9)
Authority: The Head Start
Act, as amended,
45 CFR (A). Administered by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services; O.C.G.A.
20-1A-4;
50-27-2;
50-27-3.,
O.C.G.A. Sec.
28-5-122.
Notes
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-2-1-.05
O.C.G.A. Sec.
28-5-122.
Original grant
description entitled "Head Start" submitted May 5, 1999.
Submitted:
Dec. 28,
2000.
Submitted:
Dec. 20,
2001.
Submitted:
Dec. 17,
2002.
Submitted:
Nov. 18,
2003.
Submitted:
Dec. 16,
2004.
Submitted:
Dec. 16,
2005.
Submitted:
Dec. 15,
2006.
Submitted:
Dec. 12,
2007.
Submitted:
Dec. 8,
2008.
Submitted:
Dec. 22,
2009.
Submitted:
Dec. 17,
2010.
Submitted:
Dec. 21,
2011.
Submitted:
Dec. 27,
2012.
Submitted:
Dec. 20,
2013.
Submitted:
Dec. 23,
2014.