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.
Q&A Recap on Nutrition and Healthy Eating Funding for Head Start
Yesterday, August 4, the Office of Head Start (OHS) held a webinar, Accessing One-time Funds for Healthy Eating in Head Start Programs Webinar, to support the application process for one-time supplemental nutrition and healthy funding for Head Start programs (including Early Head Start programs) that was announced in Program Instruction (PI) ACF-OHS-PI-25-02 on July 29. Following a review of the PI, OHS staff responded to questions from participants. Here, we recap the highlights from the Q&A that we think might be useful to ensure you have what you need to get started on your application as the deadline fast approaches.
Six Tips for Responding to Federal Priorities in Head Start
Last month, we presented a webinar, Responding to Federal Priorities, to provide practical ways to operationalize federal guidance and identify strategies to think proactively about program activities. The webinar focused on the primary priorities as identified in Secretary Kennedy’s May testimony about the President’s HHS FY 2026 Budget, as well as two recent IMs - ACF-OHS-IM-25-03 Promoting Healthy Eating and Nutrition for Head Start Children and Families (March 2025) and ACF-OHS-IM-25-04 Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunities for Families in Head Start Programs (April 2025). Those priorities included increasing parental choice; improving health, education, and employment outcomes; increasing program delivery efficiency; and promoting parental engagement. Thank you to all who joined!
Join Us! Webinar on Responding to Federal Priorities
On June 26, 1:00-2:00pm ET, Patti Greenstein, Senior Consultant at Foundations for Families, will host a webinar, Responding to Federal Priorities, designed for Head Start/Early Head Start directors and managers interested in learning about federal priorities and how programs can respond. Attendees will learn practical ways to operationalize federal guidance, identify strategies to think proactively about program activities, and hear tips for leveraging resources and time.