Insights from Experts
Talking Points
Talking Points offers insights from experts on the topics we know are important to organizations working to strengthen communities, including organizational development, childcare, and housing stabilization. Our writers share their knowledge, research, and practical strategies for building the structures and systems you need to promote excellence in service delivery.
Talking Points is published a minimum of monthly. Subscribing also gives you access to our Monthly Round Up, where we highlight blog posts, upcoming events, and newsworthy research and reflections.
Get Ready to Apply for One-Time Nutrition and Healthy Eating Funding
On July 29, 2025, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued a Program Instruction (PI), One-time Supplemental Funds for Nutrition and Healthy Eating for Head Start Children and Families ACF-OHS-PI-25-02, providing a description of supplemental funding that will be available to Head Start programs and how to apply. While there will be a webinar offered on Monday, August 4 to learn more about the process for requesting supplemental funds, we strongly encourage interested applicants to begin preparing now as there is a quick turnaround deadline (August 22) and it is unclear how long funding will be available. Here are a few ways you can prepare.
Focus and Flexibility to Support Program Planning in 2024
Throughout 2023, we heard from programs that are juggling multiple moving pieces in program planning and operations. Programs are navigating action planning for the Full Enrollment Initiative, competing in DRS, or considering a change in scope request. Other programs are getting ready for federal monitoring review or preparing a baseline or continuation application; and for some, these timelines are changing.
What You Need to Know About FY2024 Federal Monitoring Reviews
The start of the new program year is here, and with it comes a new federal monitoring review season. During the last few years, there have been changes to content and format of reviews, due in large part to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we talk about what’s the same, what might be different, and how your program can prepare for a FY2024 federal monitoring review.
New Grant Aims to Improve Housing Stability and Support for Low-Income Families
In many communities, a lack of affordable housing is an ongoing challenge. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, no state in the U.S. has an adequate supply of affordable rental housing for the lowest income renters and rising rental costs often make it difficult to maintain housing. A newly forecasted grant from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services, will help to address these challenges by leveraging the expertise of Community Action Agencies.
Federal Budget Updates for Early Childhood Education Programs
There are many moving pieces to the federal budget. Understanding how funding is approved and when it becomes available can help programs prepare to respond to opportunities as they arise. In this blog post, we review the current status of federal funds related to early childhood education and what may be on the horizon for the upcoming federal fiscal year.
How to Plan for a Successful Change in Scope Request
Underenrollment action planning is well on its way for some Head Start/Early Head Start programs, and will be soon for many more. Whether responding to an underenrollment letter that has been received, or one expected soon, submitting a Change in Scope Request to the Office of Head Start (OHS) is one strategy programs might consider to mitigate underenrollent challenges and deal with an ongoing child care workforce staffing crisis.
Making the Case for HS/EHS Enrollment Reduction or Conversion
On November 7, 2022, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued an Information Memorandum, Enrollment Reductions and Conversion of Head Start Slots to Early Head Start Slots (ACF-IM-HS-22-09), that provides guidance to Head Start/Early Head Start programs about how to submit a change in scope and the factors that programs should take into consideration for such a request.
Funding Highlights from 2022 NHSA Fall Leadership Institute
The 2022 National Head Start Association (NHSA) Fall Leadership Institute took place September 19-22 in Washington, DC. It was a welcome opportunity to see colleagues in person, as the last couple years it has taken place virtually. One aspect of the conference that was particularly interesting from the funding perspective was Updates from the Office of Head Start. We learned about big picture and program-specific funding opportunities.
Program Planning: Sequencing Activities to Maximize Time and Enhance Usefulness
In Head Start/Early Head Start, a coordinated approach to program planning and management supports the provision of high-quality services for children and families. Each year, programs implement a variety of required activities to guide programmatic and fiscal operations. The timing of these activities, and how they build upon each other, can impact their effectiveness and value they bring to the program.
Grant Competition Opens for Statewide Family Engagement Centers
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) just announced an exciting grant opportunity for agencies to implement and enhance family engagement activities in their state. The Application for New Grants Under the Statewide Family Engagement Centers Program opened for competition on December 20, 2021 and applications are due February 17, 2022.
Data Updates and COVID Impact Essential for 2021 Grant Writing
If your program is preparing for grant writing in 2021 – whether it be DRS, Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership, or another upcoming opportunity for the early childhood community – now is a great time to consider the resources and information you will need at your fingertips for success. In recent years, fall has been a busy time for responding to Office of Head Start (OHS) grant opportunities. As your program nears the end of the current program year and thinks about summer planning, we offer a few strategies to help you prepare.