To: Charles Winfrey, Human Services Committee Chairperson
From: Pamela Coleman, GCCARD Director
title
RE: Approval of a grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration, in the amount of $17,967,874.00, to provide for Genesee County's Head Start Program for 2026-2027
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Genesee County Community Action Resource Department (GCCARD) requests authorization from this committee to accept a grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the amount of $17,967,874.00 with a recommendation of approval by the full Genesee County Board of Commissioners at their next regularly scheduled meeting.
BACKGROUND:
This grant provides funding for Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Genesee County for the budget period commencing July 01, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Services outlined in the Notice of Award include Head Start center-based, coordinated with local school districts, and home-based services for 318 children and Early Head Start center-based and home-based services for 426 infants, toddlers and pregnant moms. Comprehensive services include physical and mental health, nutrition, education and family support with the goal of preparing families and children for school success.
DISCUSSION:
Federal funds have been obligated in the amount of $14,374,299.00 with a non-federal match share of $3,593,575.00 that is generated through community partnerships, donated classroom space, volunteer hours and vendor discounts known as “in-kind” contributions. The total grant award is $17,967,874.00. This award also covers 0.635% COLA increase funds.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
This does not impact on Genesee County Human Resources.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The federal share of $14,374,299.00 is divided as follows: $5,439,475.00 Head Start operations, $54,360.00 Head Start training and technical assistance (T&TA), $8,713,849.00 Early Head Start operations and $166,615.00 Early Head Start T&TA with No Genesee County General Fund obligation. A budget amendment will be completed in October to align with the County’s budget year.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
This does not impact Genesee County facilities.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
This does not impact Genesee County technology.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This memorandum conforms to Genesee County’s priorities of Healthy, Livable and Safe Communities as GCCARD Head Start and Early Head Start promote public health through comprehensive early childhood programming and services that create safer and healthier environments for Genesee County’s youngest residents and Community Growth by offsetting some of the exponential costs of early childhood nutrition and education.
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 accepting the terms of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families grant award in the total amount of $17,967,874.00, said total consisting of $14,374,299.00 federal share and $3,593,575.00 non-federal share, to continue the operation of the Genesee County Head Start and Early Head Start programs for the period commencing July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the August 12, 2026 meeting of the Human Services Committee of this Board).