To: Charles Winfrey, Human Services Committee Chairperson
From: Pamela Coleman, GCCARD Director
title
RE: Approval of a request to submit the 2026-2027 Head Start Grant Application to the Department of Health and Human Services/Administration for Children and Families
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
The Genesee County Community Action Resource Department (GCCARD) requests authorization from this committee to submit the Head Start Grant Application to the Department of Health and Human Services/Administration for Children and Families (HHS/ACF) for the 2026-2027 school year in the amount of $17,856,240.00 ($14,284,992.00 federal, plus $3,571,248.00 non-federal share match), with a recommendation of approval by the full Genesee County Board of Commissioners at their next regularly scheduled meeting.
BACKGROUND:
This is the annual Head Start application to serve low-income families with children from birth to age five and pregnant mothers. The total proposed funded Head Start enrollment in Genesee County for the 2026-2027 school year is 318 Head Start preschool children and 426 Early Head Start children. The GCCARD Head Start Grantee has been funded for both Head Start preschool and Early Head Start. The Beecher and Mott Delegates have been funded for Early Head Start. The complete federal award of this grant is $14,284,992.00. The requested non-federal share match is $3,571,248.00. This match is generated through community partner and volunteer support in the form of classroom space, volunteer time, supplies and vendor discounts specific to the program.
DISCUSSION:
This funding provides services in center-based classrooms and through home visiting. Comprehensive services include health and oral health, nutrition, mental health, education and family support services with the goal of preparing families and children for school success.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
No impact on Genesee County Human Resources as staff are contracted through the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The complete federal award of this grant is $14,284,992.00. This is divided as follows: $5,405,152.00 Head Start Main Grant, $54,360.00 Head Start Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA), $8,658,865.00 Early Head Start Main Grant, and $166,615.00 Early Head Start T&TA. The requested non-federal share match is $3,571,248.00
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
This does not impact Genesee County facilities as space is leased.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
This does not impact Genesee County technology.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This memorandum conforms to Genesee County’s priorities of Community Growth and Long-Term Financial Stability because an educated workforce is crucial for long-term financial stability. In 2050 the children enrolled in these classrooms today will be college graduates who are hopefully pursuing careers and desires to stay in Genesee County and give back to the community that invested in them in 2026. This memorandum conforms to Healthy, Livable and Safe Communities because education supports public health.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Director of the Genesee County Community Action Resource Department (GCCARD) to authorize submitting the Head Start Grant Application to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services/Administration for Children and Families to fund the Genesee County Head Start and Early Head Start programs for the 2026-2027 school year in the amount of $17,856,240.00 ($14,284,992.00 federal plus $3,571,248.00 non-federal share match), is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the March 11, 2026 meeting of the Human Services Committee of this Board), and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute any necessary documents on behalf of Genesee County.