US CODE: Title 42,9840a. Early Head Start programs for families with infants and toddlers

TITLE 42 > CHAPTER 105 > SUBCHAPTER II > § 9840a

§ 9840a. Early Head Start programs for families with infants and toddlers

(a) In general

The Secretary shall make grants, in accordance with the provisions of this section for programs providing family-centered services for low-income families with very young children designed to promote the development of the children, and to enable their parents to fulfill their roles as parents and to move toward self-sufficiency.

(b) Scope and design of programs

In carrying out a program described in subsection (a) of this section, an entity receiving assistance under this section shall—

(1) provide, either directly or through referral, early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services that will enhance the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of participating children;

(2) ensure that the level of services provided to families responds to their needs and circumstances;

(3) promote positive parent-child interactions;

(4) provide services to parents to support their role as parents and to help the families move toward self-sufficiency (including educational and employment services as appropriate);

(5) coordinate services with services provided by programs in the State and programs in the community (including programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities) to ensure a comprehensive array of services (such as health and mental health services);

(6) ensure formal linkages with local Head Start programs in order to provide for continuity of services for children and families;

(7) in the case of a Head Start agency that operates a program and that also provides Head Start services through the age of mandatory school attendance, ensure that children and families participating in the program receive such services through such age;

(8) ensure formal linkages with the agencies and entities described in section 644(b) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1444 (b)) and providers of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.); and

(9) meet such other requirements concerning design and operation of the program described in subsection (a) of this section as the Secretary may establish.

Persons who may participate in programs described in subsection (a) of this section include—

(1) pregnant women; and

(2) families with children under age 3;

who meet the income criteria specified for families in section 9840 (a)(1) of this title.

(d) Eligible service providers

To be eligible to receive assistance under this section, an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Entities that may apply to carry out activities under this section include—

(1) entities operating Head Start programs under this subchapter; and

(2) other public entities, and nonprofit or for-profit private entities, capable of providing child and family services that meet the standards for participation in programs under this subchapter and meet such other appropriate requirements relating to the activities under this section as the Secretary may establish.

(e) Selection of grant recipients

From the portion specified in section 9835 (a)(6) of this title, the Secretary shall award grants under this subsection on a competitive basis to applicants meeting the criteria specified in subsection (d) of this section (giving priority to entities with a record of providing early, continuous, and comprehensive childhood development and family services).

(f) Distribution

In awarding grants to eligible applicants under this section, the Secretary shall—

(1) ensure an equitable national geographic distribution of the grants; and

(2) award grants to applicants proposing to serve communities in rural areas and to applicants proposing to serve communities in urban areas.

(g) Monitoring, training, technical assistance, and evaluation

(1) Requirement

In order to ensure the successful operation of programs assisted under this section, the Secretary shall use funds from the portion specified in section 9835 (a)(6) of this title to monitor the operation of such programs, evaluate their effectiveness, and provide training and technical assistance tailored to the particular needs of such programs.

(2) Training and technical assistance account

(A) In general

Of the amount made available to carry out this section for any fiscal year, not less than 5 percent and not more than 10 percent shall be reserved to fund a training and technical assistance account.

(B) Activities

Funds in the account may be used by the Secretary for purposes including—

(i) making grants to, and entering into contracts with, organizations with specialized expertise relating to infants, toddlers, and families and the capacity needed to provide direction and support to a national training and technical assistance system, in order to provide such direction and support;

(ii) providing ongoing training and technical assistance for regional and program staff charged with monitoring and overseeing the administration of the program carried out under this section;

(iii) providing ongoing training and technical assistance for existing recipients (as of the date of such training or assistance) of grants under subsection (a) of this section and support and program planning and implementation assistance for new recipients of such grants; and

(iv) providing professional development and personnel enhancement activities, including the provision of funds to recipients of grants under subsection (a) of this section for the recruitment and retention of qualified staff with an appropriate level of education and experience.

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