American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Expansion, Early Head Start Expansion, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grants | HHS 2025 ACF OHS HI 0066

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2025 ACF OHS HI 0066

The American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Expansion, Early Head Start Expansion, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership (EHS-CC) Grants opportunity is a competitive discretionary grant program administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS). Its main purpose is to expand access to high-quality, comprehensive early learning and family support services for newly enrolled, income-eligible American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) pregnant women and children from birth up to compulsory school age. The funding is intended to grow services either by expanding Early Head Start (EHS) programming or by creating/expanding Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, which are designed to increase the supply of high-quality infant and toddler care by partnering with child care providers while meeting Head Start standards.

The total funding available is approximately $9,177,455, with an expectation of about five awards. The opportunity is listed as HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-HI-0066 under CFDA 93.600 (Income Security and Social Services). The award ceiling shown is $9,177,455. The original application closing date is January 21, 2025, and the notice creation date is November 19, 2024. Applications are submitted competitively and are subject to the standard federal merit review process used for Head Start-related grant competitions.

Eligibility is broad in terms of organizational types, but specific in terms of legal requirements under the Head Start Act. Eligible applicants include public entities (such as state, county, and city/township governments; independent school districts; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities), federally recognized tribal governments, and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education. Private entities may also apply, including nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education), private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and other eligible entities, as long as they meet the eligibility provisions referenced in section 645A of the Head Start Act. The announcement also highlights that eligible applicants can include entities already operating Head Start, Early Head Start, and/or EHS-CC Partnership programs, as well as entities operating Indian Head Start or Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, and other capable public or private organizations (including community-based and faith-based organizations) that can deliver child and family services meeting Head Start program standards.

A key statutory limitation applies for Indian Head Start programming: section 641(e) of the Head Start Act prohibits a non-Indian Head Start agency from receiving a grant for an Indian Head Start program. The notice reiterates the legal definition of "Indian tribe" from the Head Start Act (as amended), which includes tribes, bands, nations, pueblos, and other organized Indian communities, including Alaska Native villages described in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, that are recognized as eligible for federal programs and services because of their status as Indians. In practice, AIAN recipients are described as tribes or corporations with formal treaty and sovereign status with the federal government, or other tribal organizations fitting the statutory framework.

There are also clear disqualifiers. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not eligible and will be disqualified from merit review. Foreign entities are also not eligible. Faith-based organizations are explicitly allowed to apply if they meet program eligibility requirements, and the notice emphasizes non-discrimination in award decisions based on an organization’s religious character or affiliation, consistent with applicable federal protections and requirements (including 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.).

For applicants looking for process guidance, OHS points people to its grant-application resources (including how to decide whether to apply, how to register and submit via Grants.gov, and how the review process works) at https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/grant-application/article/decide-whether-apply. Questions or requests for additional information can be directed by email to OHSgrants@koniag-gs.com.

• The Administration for Children and Families - OHS in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Expansion, Early Head Start Expansion, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.600.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $9,177,455.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for HHS 2025 ACF OHS HI 0066

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