Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early Childhood Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jefferson County approves Head Start policy updates, $6 million grant application and $500,000 supplemental nutrition request
Summary
The Board approved revisions to Head Start policies, authorized a continuation grant application of up to $6,000,000 and supported applying for up to $500,000 in one-time HHS supplemental funds for refrigeration, a greenhouse and sensory-accessible infrastructure.
Jefferson County commissioners approved three Head Start items at the briefing: revisions to program policies, authorization to apply for the Head Start five-year continuation grant of up to $6,000,000, and authorization to apply for and accept up to $500,000 in one-time supplemental funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for nutrition-related improvements.
Rachel Weigster, Head Start Division Director, told the board that deleting and consolidating policies is required by the Head Start Act and federal Performance Standards. “The first policies to delete are our community assessment and program planning policy,” she said, adding that the county combined them into an updated program planning policy for clarity. Weigster also said staff qualifications were clarified to add a new position and that internal reviews were updated to include incidents identified through video surveillance review.
On the continuation grant, Weigster asked commissioners to approve applying for the five-year renewal with annual continuations in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000. She said the application includes an addition of a Lakewood grant and requires governance and health/safety screeners; the application materials and screeners must be signed and are due October 1.
Separately, the board supported pursuing up to $500,000 in one-time supplemental funding from HHS to expand refrigeration capacity, install a greenhouse and build a sensory-friendly, ADA-accessible walkway to the greenhouse, fund classroom-based nutrition education partnerships and provide staff professional development. Weigster told commissioners the grant includes a 20% match requirement and that, after further assessment, the refrigeration plan shifted from expanding walk-in refrigeration to a minor kitchen renovation plus purchase of a standalone reach-in refrigerator and three commercial refrigerators for the sites in question.
Commissioners recorded verbal approval for the three items during the briefing.
