OHS Highlights from the NHSA Fall Leadership Institute

The NHSA Fall Leadership Institute took place last week, and there was no shortage of federal updates. At the Office of Head Start (OHS) Town Hall, we learned about implementation of the new Head Start Program Performance Standards (Performance Standards) and heard about the types of resources and supports that will be available to programs. Attendees were encouraged to share what they learned in the session with others. Here are a few of the top highlights.When and how the new Performance Standards will be monitoredWhile Focus Area 1 and Focus Area 2 monitoring reviews typically begin in October, this year they will begin in early December. As in prior years, Focus Area 1 reviews will be virtual and Focus Area 2 reviews will be a combination of virtual and onsite. CLASS reviews will begin in October, and follow-up and RAN reviews will be conducted as needed. OHS noted that monitoring protocols will be announced prior to the start of monitoring, and the agency will hold an informational webinar for grantees.Programs will be monitored for compliance with existing regulations that did not change in the updated Performance Standards, as well as existing regulations that were clarified by language in the final rule. Programs will NOT be monitored for compliance with any NEW regulations added to the updated Performance Standards this year, even if they are in effect at the time of monitoring. Monitoring for NEW regulations will begin in program year 2025-2026.While the timeline for compliance indicates that some new requirements are now in effect (such as the adjustment to family income for excessive housing costs) programs will not be monitored on these requirements during the program year. However, programs are encouraged to meet these requirements where possible.When it comes to monitoring for the Standards of Conduct and/or health and safety incident reporting – programs will be monitored to ensure that all reporting aligns with the new Performance Standards.Factoring excessive housing costs into income-eligibilityThe updated Performance Standards allow programs to adjust families’ gross income to allow for high housing costs. If a family spends more than 30% of their total income on housing costs, the amount that is over 30% of income may be deducted. Housing costs are defined as rent, mortgage, homeowners/renters insurance, interest, taxes and utilities (including electricity, gas, sewer, water, and trash collection).This update was made to align the income guidelines with other federal programs such as SNAP and HUD, and for this reason, it does not include expenses such as internet or transportation. While programs are not going to be monitored on this standard, they are encouraged to begin using it to enroll families who are eligible under the updated rule. OHS is also planning to roll out an income adjustment calculation tool to help with this update to income eligibility.Definition of and requirements for mental health consultationOHS stressed that mental health support and wellness must be supported through a multidisciplinary approach. Under the broad umbrella of mental health supports, programs can offer a number of activities which are designed to build the overall capacity of the adults caring for children. Examples of these activities include: behavioral health support specialists working with program staff, preventative work conducted by mental health consultants, identifying children with mental health needs, working with classroom staff, working with families, or working with the mental health consultant on your policies.Recognizing the shortage of licensed mental health consultants, the updated standards allow for credentialed staff to support mental health consultants to meet the monthly requirement for services. This flexibility is designed to allow behavioral health specialists to work under the supervision of a licensed mental health consultant. OHS is planning for additional technical assistance, including organizational planning to help grant recipients understand how to structure their mental health services staff.Coming soon…OHS offered a preview of the regional roundtables it will be hosting across the US in the coming months. Regional meetings are planned in San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York City, Dallas, and Atlanta and will provide an opportunity for discussion with leadership from the OHS. Additionally, guidance will continue to be forthcoming, in the form of webinars, regional meetings, and other materials on ECLKC.We understand there are many changes to the Performance Standards and programs are at various stages of readiness for implementation and monitoring. Foundations for Families offers offer a variety of consulting services to assist programs, such as federal review preparation. If you are interested to learn more or have questions, please be in touch.Thank you.Thank you for reading our blog. We encourage you to use our blog posts for thought, integration, and sharing. When using or sharing content from blog posts, please attribute the original content to Foundations for Families.