Agenda

Return

C. 34

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Date:	May 24, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

2022 Early Head Start Cost-of-Living Adjustment and Quality Improvement Funds

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/24/2022

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

V. Kaplan, (925) 608-5052

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 24, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to apply for and accept the 2.28% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in the amount of $201,064 and Quality Improvement (QI) increase in the amount of $45,561 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), for a total amount not to exceed $246,625 for the Early Head Start Program, to offset operating costs and improve program quality, for the term January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.

FISCAL IMPACT:

$246,625 is federally funded by Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The County, as grantee, is required to generate a non-federal share of $61,656, computed at 25% of supplemental amount for the Early Head Start Program. (CFDA #93.600) This match is achieved through collaboration with State Child Development programs and the volunteer hours accrued by Early Head Start parents and community partners.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If not approved, funding to assist with Early Head Start operating costs will be forfeited.

BACKGROUND:

Contra Costa County submits an application annually to U.S. Health and Human Services Department, ACF as the Early Head Start grantee. The Department of Health and Human Services Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 contains a funding increase for Early Head Start.

The increase provides a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.28 percent and quality improvement (QI) funding. Early Head Start services are operated by the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD), Community Services Bureau (CSB). The COLA of 2.28% will assist CSB in increasing staff salaries and fringe benefits and offsetting higher operating costs. CSB intends to use the funding to cover negotiated increases to salary and benefits.

CSB will allocate quality improvement funding proportionate to federal funded enrollment in order to make ongoing investments to address local needs and increase quality of the Early Head Start program, including recruitment and retention of quality Head Start staff.

The Head Start Policy Council has reviewed the application and is anticipated to approve it at their next meeting on May 18, 2022. This Board Order is to obtain Board of Supervisors' approval for the grant submission.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

The Community Services Bureau of the Employment and Human Services Department’s Early Head Start program supports three (3) of Contra Costa County’s community outcomes - Outcome 1: “Children Ready for and Succeeding in School,” Outcome 3: “Families that are Economically Self-sufficient,” and Outcome 4: “Families that are Safe, Stable, and Nurturing.” These outcomes are achieved by offering comprehensive services, including high quality early childhood education, nutrition, and health services to low-income children throughout Contra Costa County.