The Administration for Children and Families, the Office of Head Start (OHS) announces the availability of $2,000,000 to be competitively awarded to tribal colleges and universities for the purpose of establishing or enhancing partnerships with Head Start programs that effectively increase the number of qualified education staff working in American Indian Alaska Native Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
Donor Name: Administration for Children and Families
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/10/2023
Size of the Grant: $2,000,000
Grant Duration: 60 months
Details:
The Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start Partnership Programs (TCU-HS Partnership Programs) funded through this announcement will offer carefully designed, high-quality, accessible, and flexible programs that increase the number of qualified staff eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start education positions. Early childhood educators are increasingly recognized for the critical role they can play improving outcomes, particularly for children at risk of delays due to poverty, exposure to trauma, and other circumstances. Successful applicants will partner with one or more AIAN Head Start recipients and will identify the number of students to be enrolled, how the students will be retained through the program design and responsive and effective supports, and the number of credentials or degrees expected to be conferred. TCU-HS Partnership Programs will include all the supports necessary for AIAN current or potential staff members to successfully participate in the program and acquire degrees or credentials. Recipients will possess the program and fiscal resources needed to effectively administer this program.
To meet the needs of our nation’s most vulnerable children and families, Head Start/Early Head Start recipients provide comprehensive early childhood services, including education, health, mental health, nutrition, and family engagement services to promote improved outcomes. Head Start/Early Head Start recipients are required to serve children and families with the greatest need including children who live in foster care, children with disabilities, and children and families who are experiencing homelessness. Special eligibility provisions for AIAN program enrollment are provided and can be found in HSPPS.
The TCU-HS Partnership recipients will increase the number of qualified AIAN Head Start staff through programs that:
- Are responsive to the specific needs of the AIAN Head Start partner(s), including identifying needs such as access to technology and corresponding technical support;
- Meet the educational needs of adult learners with diverse backgrounds;
- Mitigate or eliminate access barriers, such as location or scheduling, through distance learning, on-site or community-based classes, or innovative approaches;
- Include both knowledge and competencies required for effective teaching of young children in AIAN Head Start, including tribal culture and language;
- Support individual enrollee needs, as necessary, through help accessing tuition reimbursement programs, direct tuition assistance, provision of books and technology, assistance with transportation and other costs related to enrollment, and ongoing student support and academic counseling;
- Consider and incorporate course design and delivery methods, such as on-line course work with necessary technical and location-based coaching, that yield the highest completion rates for adults in higher education; and
- Incorporate learning cohorts or communities, use of on-site tutors or coaches, and other program and peer supports shown to result in higher completion rates
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Funding: $2,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $2,000,000
- Award Floor: $500,000
Project Period
60-month project period with five 12-month budget periods.
Eligible Applicants
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Additional Information on Eligibility
Eligible applicants include Tribal Colleges and Universities as defined in Section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (U.S.C.1059c(b)). Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
