Early Head Start Child Care Partnership (EHSCCP) Grant – Request for Applications

In 2015, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was awarded an Early Head Start Child Care Partnership (EHSCCP) grant to provide partnership opportunities to high quality child care providers to serve 324 income eligible infants and toddlers in their community. Applications are being accepted for up to 40 slots (total amount available) by providers who are interested.

Eligible partners will:

  • Have and maintain a STAR 3 or 4 rating.
  • Provide full day (10 hours or more), full year, care to infants and toddlers (ages 6 weeks – 3 years of age) who’s families are income eligible and are working or in school.
  • Adhere to all Head Start Program Performance Standards and OCDEL Early Head Start (EHS) policies including meeting a staff to child ratio of 1:4, a maximum group size of 8 children, providing two qualified staff in the room at all times, no matter the number of children, an assign children to primary care groups to contribute to practices related to continuity of care.
  • Retain or hire qualified staff to work in EHS classrooms. To work in an EHS classroom staff must have a minimum of an Infant Toddler CDA, and/or an AA degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or a related field with a minimum of 9 credits specific to infants and toddlers.
  • Facilitate time for staff to engage in coaching with an OCDEL EHS Coach on an ongoing basis.
  • Maintain full enrollment and fill vacant slots within 30 days.
  • Participate in Child Care Works (CCW) and continue to provide care to children who lose their CCW until they transition from the program. Children may not be unenrolled due to loss of subsidy.
  • Utilize GoEngage data system (previously known as MyHeadStart)
  • Work collaboratively with the comprehensive service provider (hub) who holds their contract if there is one.
  • Waive any fees typically charged to enrolled families except for subsidy co-pays.

On Thursday, March 2, 2023, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) EHS Team hosted a virtual Q&A via Zoom to address questions about the requirements of the grants, the application process and general information about EHSCCP. Pre-registration was not required.

Providers who are willing to meet the criteria above are encouraged to complete an application for consideration.

Submit completed applications to ehsteam@pakeys.org by Monday, March 20, 2023, by close of business.

About the Early Head Start Program

Early Head Start programs provide family-centered services for low-income families with very young children. These programs are 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.

Early Head Start programs provide similar services as preschool Head Start programs, but they are tailored for the unique needs of infants and toddlers. Early Head Start programs promote the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of infants and toddlers through safe and developmentally enriching caregiving. This prepares these children for continued growth and development and eventual success in school and life.

Following the general Head Start model, Early Head Start programs support parents, both mothers and fathers, in their role as primary caregivers and teachers of their children. Programs assist families in meeting their own personal goals and achieving self-sufficiency across a wide variety of domains, such as housing stability, continued education, and financial security.

Early Head Start programs also mobilize the local community to provide the resources and environment necessary to ensure a comprehensive, integrated array of services and support for children and families.

Combined Program Report to the Public: Home-Based FY: 2020-2021 & Early Head Start Child Care Partnership FY: 2020-2021

Read the full report.

Policy Council and Governing Board

Part of complying with the Head Start Performance Standards, Early Head Start Governance is made up of Policy Council and Governing Board members driven by their desire to make a big difference in the lives of low-income children and families in their community. They help the Head Start organization set and achieve goals for children’s healthy development and school readiness, families’ economic well-being, and community empowerment.