REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 24, 2026
FROM
ARLENE MOLINA, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contracts for Head Start and Early Head Start Program Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to the following contracts, to provide Head Start and Early Head Start program services, updating contract language to reflect updated performance standards and the Food Services Responsibilities, and increasing the current budget to include carryover of unexpended funds in the amount of $4,339,427 from program year 2024-25 to 2025-26, from a combined contract amount of $45,815,710 to $50,155,137, with no change to the contract period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.
1. Child Care Resource Center, Contract No. 25-667, increasing the contract amount by $97,480 from $11,222,935 to $11,320,415.
2. Colton Joint Unified School District, Contract No. 25-668, updating contract language and increasing the contract amount by $941,947 from $6,323,385 to $7,265,332.
3. Easter Seals Southern California, Inc., Contract No. 25-669, updating contract language and increasing the contract amount by $2,300,000 from $25,898,530 to $28,198,530.
4. Needles Unified School District, Contract No. 25-670, updating contract language and increasing the contract amount by $1,000,000 from $2,370,860 to $3,370,860.
(Presenter: Arlene Molina, Director, 383-2078)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The recommended amendment transfers unexpended funds in the amount of $4,339,427 from program year 2024-25 to 2025-26, all of which is federally funded through the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Preschool Services Department (PSD) 2025-26 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PSD operates the Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) programs and serves approximately 2,039 children in 31 locations throughout San Bernardino County (County). These programs provide comprehensive child development and family services that include education, health, nutrition, parental involvement, and psychological services for children ages zero to five years and their families. Since 1999, PSD has provided these programs through a combination of direct and contracted services. PSD currently contracts with six contract agencies: A New Beginning Foster Family Agency (ANBFFA), Child Care Resource Center (CCRC), Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD), Easter Seals Southern California, Inc. (ESSC), Needles Unified School District (NUSD), and Rim of the World Unified School District (RimUSD) to provide HS and EHS program services to approximately 781 eligible children and their families countywide.
As a result of a desk audit conducted on September 23, 2025, by the United States Department of Agriculture, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Community Procurement Unit, it was determined that the contract language relating to the Food Services Responsibilities for CJUSD, ESSC, and NUSD required updating to better align with the CACFP requirements. PSD also determined that the language relating to the Contractor Responsibilities for CJUSD also required updating to better align with federal HS Performance Standards [45 CFR §1302.44(a)]. Currently, there are no updates that affect the contract with ANBFFA or CCRC.
On June 10, 2025 (Item No. 71), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the distribution of additional funds totaling $5,800,000 to be obligated by June 30, 2025.
On July 9, 2025, the Office of Head Start notified PSD of Grant Award No. 09CH011719-05-06 extending the budget period by one year for a total period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, allowing for a carryover of funds.
On August 5, 2025 (Item No. 49), the Board accepted a combined grant award (Agreement No. 25-581) totaling $112,188,316 from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, ACF, which includes $46,155,647 in carryover funds and $66,032,669 in obligated federal funds from the 2024-25 program year, to support HS, and EHS Preschool programs, and extends the grant period by one year, for the total term of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026.
On September 9, 2025 (Item No. 41), the Board approved the competitively procured (RFP No. PSSD25-ADMIN-5719) contracts with the following contract agencies to provide HS and EHS Preschool programs, for a combined total amount of $53,499,200, for the contract period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030: Contract No. 25-666 with ANBFFA, Contract No. 25-667 with CCRC, Contract No. 25-668 with CJUSD, Contract No. 25-669 with ESSC, and Contract No. 25-670 with NUSD. In addition, the Board approved non-financial Contract No. 25-671 with RimUSD for the period of August 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.
The 2024-25 award had an initial obligation deadline of June 30, 2025, which did not provide sufficient time for all the contract agencies to fully expend their approved amounts. Both the Office of Head Start (July 9, 2025, grant notification) and the Board of Supervisors (August 5, 2025, Item No. 49) approved a one-year extension of the 2024-25 award to the current obligation deadline of June 30, 2026.
Approval of the recommended amendments will allow CCRC, CJUSD, ESSC, and NUSD to spend or obligate any unexpended funds for supplies, and staff trainings by June 30, 2026. These efforts will help to provide additional comprehensive child development and family services to eligible children and families, and to enhance children’s safety and health measures.
The performance of ANBFFA, CCRC, CJUSD, ESSC, and NUSD will continue to be monitored by reviewing monthly reports to ensure compliance with the administrative, fiscal, and program requirements of the contracts. The contracts may be terminated without cause by the County with 30 days’ written notice.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services (Lisa Rivas-Ordaz, Contracts Manager, 388-0222) on January 30, 2026; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 28, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Allegra Pajot, Administrative Analyst, 388-0218) on February 4, 2026.