Tribal Self-Governance Study
Description of Program,
Service, Function or Activity (PSFA)
INVENTORY
1. Agency Name: Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
2. Program Name: Head Start
3. CFDA #: 93.600
4. Program Objectives: Section 636. [42 U.S.C. 9831] It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children through the provision, to low-income children and their families, of health, educational, nutritional, social and other services that are determined, based on family needs assessments, to be necessary.
5. Titles and Descriptions of at least Three Funded Grantees:
Navajo Nation of Arizona: Serving 4013 Head Start and 60 Early Head Start native children in the states of Arizona and New Mexico.
Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma: Serving 680 Head Start and 75 Early Head Start native children.
Oglala Sioux tribe of South Dakota: Serving 531 Head Start and 100 Early Head Start native children.
AUTHORITY
6. Authorizing Statute(s): The Head Start Act. [42 U.S.C. 9801]
7. Regulatory/Administrative Requirements: 45 CFR Chapter XIII - including 45 CFR 1301-1308.
8. Mandatory Statutory Changes Needed to Operate PSFA as a Demonstration: Not known. Currently grants are made directly to Federally-recognized tribes, inter-tribal councils and Alaska Native organizations, which plan and administer their Head Start Programs.
APPLICANTS, BENEFICIARIES and FORMULAS
9. Type of Funding: Discretionary Grant Awards
10. Eligible Applicants: Any local government, eligible “Indian tribe”, or public or private non-profit or for-profit agency which meets the requirements may apply for a grant. Applications, however, will be considered only when submitted in response to a specific announcement, published in the Federal Register, which solicits proposals to establish new Head Start Programs. Grantee agencies may subcontract with other child-serving agencies to provide services to Head Start children.
11. Allotment Formulas, Etc.: The statistical factor used for fund allocation is: the relative number of children (less than 5 years of age) living with families whose income is below the poverty line. Head Start grantees are required to provide 20% of the total cost of the program, although this maybe waived wholly or in part if certain conditions pertain. Matching share may be in cash or in-kind fairly evaluated.
12. Applicant Provisions/Allotments in Law for Indians: The term “Indian tribe” means any tribe, band, nation, pueblo or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Native village described in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
Section 637. [42 U.S.C. 9832 (10)]
13. Eligible Beneficiaries: Pursuant to the Head Start Program Performance Standards 45 CFR 1305.4 (b), at least 90% of the children who enroll in Head Start Programs must be from low- income families. An Indian tribe may enroll more than 10% of its children from families whose incomes exceed the low-income guidelines when appropriate conditions are met. Priority is given to meeting the needs of income-eligible children from both Indian and non-Indian families served by the program. If these needs are met at least 51 percent of the children to be served by the program must be from families that meet the income-eligibility guidelines.
14. Beneficiary Provisions/Allotments in Law for Indians: None
15. Amount and Percent of Total that is Mandatory for Indians: The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall reserve 13 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year for use in accordance with the following order of priorities—
A) Indian Head Start Programs, services for children with disabilities, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs, except that there shall be made available for each fiscal year for use by Indian Head Start Programs and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs, on a nationwide basis, not less than the amount that was obligated for use by Indian Head Start Programs and by Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs for fiscal year 1998.
FINANCIAL
16. Total FY 2000 Funding: $5,267,000,000
17. Amount and Percent of Total Funding Awarded to Indians: $145,690,155 2.7% 20,602 children
18. For Awards to Tribes: Number, Range and Average Amounts: 170 awards
Largest Award Amount: $22,278,108 Navajo Nation of Arizona
Department
of Head Start
N= 4013 children
Smallest Award Amount: $111,916 Prairie Band of Potawatomi
Early Head
Start Program
N= 12 children
Average Award Amount: $832,119
19. Total FY 2001 Funding and Amount for Indians, If Known: $163,557,816
OTHER
20. -- how long assistance is funded: Funds are available for a 12-month budget period. Grantees are funded with an indefinite project period so long as they perform satisfactorily. Currently, grantees exist who have maintained funding since the inception of the Head Start Program. Funds are released by monthly allowance on an Electronic Funds Transfer System or by monthly check.
-- fund use restrictions: Funds are to be used for allowable costs for eligible children as specified in the grant award.
-- reporting requirements: Annual financial reports are required. Statistical program information is collected annually as well.
-- audit requirements: Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements of 45 CFR, Parts 74 and 92.
CONTACTS
21. DHHS Workgroup Contact: Sharon McCully, Intra-Departmental Council on Native American Affairs (ANA)
22. HHS Agency/Program Contact: Ann Linehan, Division Director, Program Operations