This grant award is being made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L.

111-5).

Funding will support the enrollment of additional children and families as well as create new teaching and other positions in Early Head Start programs.  The Administration

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for Children and Families solicits applications from public or private non-profit organizations, including faith-based organizations or for-profit organizations, that wish to compete for funds that are available to provide Early Head Start services to pregnant women, infants and toddlers and their families.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announces the availability of approximately $619 million to be competitively awarded for the purpose of expanding enrollment by approximately 55,000 low-income children and their families.

This expansion is only to increase the number of pregnant women, infants and toddlers served in Early Head Start.

Financial assistance will be competitively awarded to local public and local non-profit and for-profit private entities, including Early Head Start and Head Start grantees, to provide child and family development services for low-income families with infants and toddlers ages birth to three years and pregnant women who are not currently being served by a Head Start or Early Head Start program.

Early Head Start programs are funded to provide early, continuous, intensive and comprehensive child development and family support services.

The purpose of the Early Head Start program is to enhance children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development; to assist pregnant women to access comprehensive prenatal and post partum care; to support parents' efforts to fulfill their parental roles; and to help parents move toward self-sufficiency.

Research demonstrates that such early, continuous, intensive and comprehensive programs that are well implemented improve school readiness outcomes for children.

This grant opportunity is being made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 200 9. Successful applicants will be subject to reporting requirements consistent with the Act and with current Head Start regulations.  All interested applicants can access information that will inform the design of quality Early Head Start programs that meet the requirements of the Head Start Program Performance Standards and other regulations and the Head Start Act on the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov)