Head Start changes, provider losses and an Up-County project put early-childhood slots at risk

County staff told the joint Education Culture and Health and Human Services committees that recent federal and provider changes have reduced local Early Head Start capacity and required program adjustments to protect slots for 3‑ and 4‑year-olds.

Jennifer Arnaiz explained the county must reapply as the Head Start lead agency and that new federal guidelines change delegation authority limits (reducing the percentage that can be passed through to a single delegate) and expand the scope to serve birth through 5. Arnaiz told the committee: "We do expect an award decision sometime between March and April. However, with the recent federal administrative changes, we do also expect delays." (paraphrased from transcript.)

Charlene Mohammed, the county’s Head Start program manager, said the federal performance standards also aim to raise compensation and supports for Head Start staff. To preserve local capacity under those constraints, the county worked with MCPS to braid Title I funds; Mohammed said that arrangement yields an expected Head Start enrollment of 370 three- and four-year-olds and 68 birth-to-3 community slots under the county’s application strategy.

Provider changes have affected Early Head Start capacity. Kimberly Resnick reported that CentroNia remained steady but that Shepherd Pratt relinquished its Early Head Start center-based seats (the Discovery Station lease ended) and the Lory/Lohrey Center shifted from center-based services to home visiting, causing seat losses. That shift reduced available center-based infant/toddler slots and complicated placement for children aging out of Early Head Start.

Up-County site contingency: County staff and a community provider, Easterseals’ Larry Graham, said an Up‑County Early Head Start project is underway—contracting, lease negotiations and project planning are in progress—but the vendor partner’s ability to operate centers depends on receiving a federal Early Head Start grant. "We have applied for 48 Early Head Start slots plus 12 pregnant women to serve Up County," Graham said. Staff cautioned that without the federal award the county match and lease contingencies present financial risk, and the June 30 fiscal timeline adds urgency.

Why it matters: Head Start represents a major federal funding source for high-need children and expansions or contractions in delegate capacity directly affect families, especially those with infants and toddlers. County staff said they are designing contracts, braiding funding and applying for grants to maintain services, but outcomes depend on federal awards and revised rules.

Next steps: The county expects Head Start award decisions in spring; staff will continue vendor selection for facilities funds and will return to committees with updates. Committee members asked for clearer written explanations of how braiding, state and federal grants and county contracts will interact so staff can respond to community questions about enrollment and seats.