REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 9, 2025
FROM
ARLENE MOLINA, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Award from the United States Department of Health and Human Services for the Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Programs
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept a combined grant award (Award No. 09CH013239-01-00) from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families for the continued support of the Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership programs, in the amount of $66,032,669 for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of Preschool Services Department to accept and execute any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the grant award for the Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership programs, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of Preschool Services Department to transmit any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the grant award for the Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership programs to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(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.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The total grant of $82,540,836 includes the $66,032,669 from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for the Head Start (HS), Early Head Start (EHS), and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) programs and a 20% non-federal share match of the total program cost from the County, which equates to 25% of the grant award. The Preschool Services Department (PSD) will meet the non-federal match requirement through volunteer service hours such as volunteer time and services, vendor discounts on goods and services, and other donations. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the PSD 2025-26 Recommended Budget:
Program
Award
Match
Total
HS
$42,785,500
$10,696,375
$53,481,875
EHS/EHS-CCP
$23,247,169
$5,811,792
$29,058,961
Total
$66,032,669
$16,508,167
$82,540,836
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PSD operates the HS, EHS, and EHS-CCP programs, serving approximately 2,000 children through direct and indirect services in locations throughout San Bernardino County (County). The programs provide education, health, nutrition, cognitive, social/emotional, physical growth and development, and parent involvement services from pregnancy to children from birth to five years 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 the County since 1965.
This grant award includes:
* HS funding in the amount of $42,785,500, which includes $42,305,574 for basic operations and $479,926 for Training and Technical Assistance. The $42,305,574 for HS program operations will serve approximately 1,456 eligible children, at an estimated annual cost of $29,056 per child.
* EHS/EHS-CCP funding in the amount of $23,247,169, which includes $22,973,156 for basic program operations and $274,013 for Training and Technical Assistance. The $22,973,156 for EHS program operations will serve approximately 583 eligible EHS children, at an estimated annual cost of $39,405 per child.
On March 26, 2024 (Item No. 52), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the submission of a grant application to ACF for continued support of HS, EHS, and EHS-CCP Programs, in the amount of $64,533,874, for the grant period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
On September 24, 2024 (Item No. 42), the Board approved Contract No. 24-939 (Award No. 09CH011719-05-00), a grant award from ACF for the support of HS, EHS, and EHS-CCP programs, in the amount of $33,016,334, for the grant period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
On November 5, 2024 (Item No. 26), the Board approved Contract No. 24-1085 (Award No. 09CH011719-05-01), an additional award from ACF in the amount of $33,016,335, for a combined total of $66,032,669 for the 2024-25 program year. The funds from ACF were for continued support of the HS, EHS, and EHS-CCP programs, with no change to the grant period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
On April 8, 2025 (Item No. 33), the Board approved the submission of a grant application to ACF for continued support of the HS, EHS, and EHS-CCP programs in the amount of $66,032,669, for the grant period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
PSD received the notice of award on July 1, 2025. This item is being presented to the Board at this time, as this is the first date available following required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews. Approval will not impact PSD's HS, EHS, and EHS-CCP programs services and activities.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Sophie A. Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 29, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Allegra Pajot, Administrative Analyst, 388-0218) on August 19, 2025.