National Center on Head Start Early Learning, Health and Family Engagement

Key Facts

Status: Open

Posted date: June 26, 2025

Archive date: January 14, 2026

Opportunity ID: 359836

Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACF-OHS-HC-0002

Opportunity category: Discretionary

Agency name: Administration for Children and Families - OHS

Agency code: HHS-ACF-OHS

Award floor: $15,000,000

Award ceiling: $15,000,000

Cost sharing required: No

Funding Instrument Types
  • Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity
  • Income Security and Social Services
Eligible Applicants
  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Others
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
Tools
Categories (use these for quoted searches)
  • agency_code:hhs_acf_ohs
  • category_of_funding_activity:income_security_and_social_services
  • cost_sharing_or_matching_requirement:false
  • eligible_applicants:city_or_township_governments
  • eligible_applicants:county_governments
  • eligible_applicants:for_profit_organizations_other_than_small_businesses
  • eligible_applicants:independent_school_districts
  • eligible_applicants:native_american_tribal_governments_federally_recognized
  • eligible_applicants:native_american_tribal_organizations_other_than_federally_recognized_tribal_governments
  • eligible_applicants:nonprofits_having_a_501_c_3_status_with_the_irs_other_than_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:nonprofits_that_do_not_have_a_501_c_3_status_with_the_irs_other_than_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:others
  • eligible_applicants:private_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:public_and_state_controlled_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:public_housing_authoritiesindian_housing_authorities
  • eligible_applicants:small_businesses
  • eligible_applicants:special_district_governments
  • eligible_applicants:state_governments
  • funding_instrument_type:cooperative_agreement
  • opportunity_category:discretionary
  • status:open
Description

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS) announces the availability of approximately $15,000,000 to be competitively awarded for the purpose of operating the Head Start National Center (NC) on Early Learning, Health, and Family Engagement (ELHFE). This NC will provide training and technical assistance (TTA) that reflects current evidence, is research-informed, and promotes best practices. The NC ELHFE will strengthen Head Start program practices and services leading to improved education, health, and family engagement services in Head Start programs. The goal of the NC is to provide up-to-date and best practices-driven professional development training and resources that lead to:Continuous program improvement.Increased staff knowledge, skills, and practices. Aligned content with states, Tribes, and territories.Improved outcomes for children and families related to early learning and development; health, mental health, and safety; and family wellbeing and family engagement. Because Head Start comprehensive services is complex and expansive, the primary recipient will be expected to bring together knowledgeable subrecipients in early learning, health, and family engagement. The NC ELHFE will join the Head Start National Center on Program Management and Quality Assurance as part of a National and Regional OHS TTA System. Please use the funding opportunity number listed to access more information on the Head Start Program Management and Quality Assurance National Center (HHS-2026-ACF-OHS-HC-0103).

National Center on Head Start Early Learning, Health and Family Engagement
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS) announces the availability of approximately $15,000,000 to be competitively awarded for the purpose of operating the Head Start National Center (NC) on Early Learning, Health, and Family Engagement (ELHFE). This NC will provide training and technical assistance (TTA) that reflects current evidence, is research-informed, and promotes best practices. The NC ELHFE will strengthen Head Start program practices and services leading to improved education, health, and family engagement services in Head Start programs. The goal of the NC is to provide up-to-date and best practices-driven professional development training and resources that lead to:Continuous program improvement.Increased staff knowledge, skills, and practices. Aligned content with states, Tribes, and territories.Improved outcomes for children and families related to early learning and development; health, mental health, and safety; and family wellbeing and family engagement. Because Head Start comprehensive services is complex and expansive, the primary recipient will be expected to bring together knowledgeable subrecipients in early learning, health, and family engagement. The NC ELHFE will join the Head Start National Center on Program Management and Quality Assurance as part of a National and Regional OHS TTA System. Please use the funding opportunity number listed to access more information on the Head Start Program Management and Quality Assurance National Center (HHS-2026-ACF-OHS-HC-0103).
National Center on Head Start Early Learning, Health and Family Engagement
Open
Administration for Children and Families - OHS
Income Security and Social Services
Cooperative Agreement
State governments
County governments
City or township governments
Special district governments
Independent school districts
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
For-profit organizations other than small businesses
Small businesses
Others
2025-06-26