REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 14, 2023
FROM
JACQUELYN GREENE, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Mid-Year Reduction Request for Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership Programs
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve and authorize the submission of the mid-year reduction request for Contract No. 22-752 (Grant Award No. 09CH011719-03) from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, for continued Head Start Program support with no change to the total contract amount of $73,151,499 for the contract period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
(Presenter: Jacquelyn Greene, Director, 383-2005)
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 grant funding is from United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, for continued Head Start Program support. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Preschool Services Department’s (PSD) 2022-23 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PSD operates the Early Head Start, Head Start, Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP), and State Preschool programs serving approximately 3,800 children through direct and indirect services in locations throughout San Bernardino County. The programs provide education, health, nutrition, cognitive, social/emotional, physical growth and development, and parent involvement services for children ages 0 to 5 with the overall goal of increasing family engagement and school readiness of young children in economically disadvantaged families. Head Start and State Preschool programs have been operating in San Bernardino County since 1965.
PSD is proposing a mid-year reduction of 258 funded slots from currently closed Part-Day and Home Base Head Start classrooms as a result of low enrollment due to the COVID 19 pandemic and increased availability of other preschool options for this population (preschool through school districts, transitional kindergarten, etc.) In addition, the closed classrooms will enable PSD to convert space to service the underserved 0-3 year old Early Head Start population as soon as the slots reduction is approved by the Office of Head Start. The Early Head Start program will have no reduction in available slots.
Approval of this item will allow PSD to maintain a high-quality program, meet the needs of the community, and identify funds to support efforts to attract and retain qualified staff. Once this reduction request is approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, PSD will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for approval of the resulting amendment to County Contract No. 22-752. In addition, PSD staff will receive additional training opportunities to support and implement a sustainable quality program.
On August 9, 2022 (Item No. 26), the Board approved acceptance of a combined grant award (County Contract No. 22-752, Grant Award No. 09CH011719-03) from Administration for Children and Families for the Head Start, Early Head Start, and EHS-CCP Programs in the amount of $58,467,080, for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
On October 25, 2022 (Item No. 47), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 22-752 (Grant Award No. 09CH011719-03-01), increasing the amount by $1,553,922, from $58,467,080 to $60,021,002, with no change to the term of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
On February 7, 2023 (Item No. 23), the Board approved Amendments No. 2 and No. 3 to Contract No. 22-752 (Grant Award Nos. 09CH011719-03-02 and 09CH011719-03-03, respectively), increasing the amount by $13,130,497, from $60,021,002 to $73,151,499, with no change to the term of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 9, 2023; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on February 27, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on February 27, 2023.