That the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement for the Delegation of Early Head Start Program Operations for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 with Orange County Head Start, Inc. (OCHS) authorizing the City to provide Early Head Start developmental services for 50 infant/toddlers aged 0 to 3 years old and/or pregnant mothers-to-be living in La Habra in a Home-Based setting.

In 2010, OCHS granted the City of La Habra Early Head Start (EHS) program the option to provide developmental services for up to 30 infants/toddlers through a home-based program.  During the 2017-2018 Fiscal School Year, grant funding for the EHS program was increased, allowing an additional 20 children to be served through the program.  Under the terms of the proposed agreement, the City will continue to provide program services to 50 infant/toddlers during Fiscal Year 2021-2022.

EHS strives to provide comprehensive Early Child Development services to children and their families.  The home-based program supports children and their families through home visits and group socialization activities.  A Home-Educator visits the child's home on a weekly basis and provides one-on-one educational enrichment activities to the child with the participation of the parent.  Home educators and parents collaboratively plan for the activities during the visits and parents are provided support that facilitates the child's development and strengthens the parent's role as primary caregiver for the child.  Furthermore, home visits support and strengthen the relationship between infants/toddlers and parents.

Socialization activities occur twice a month wherein all children enrolled in the program, along with parents, have the opportunity to participate in group activities that offer an extensive variety of educationally enriched activities that include language and literacy acquisition, mathematical awareness, physical development, and emotional/social development.  Staff strives to ensure that each child receives individual attention, encouragement, support, and guidance.  The program offers a variety of experiences to assist in the development towards the child's full potential.
 
The EHS budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 is $640,851.  The basic budget is $497,005, which covers the cost of staff salaries and benefits, supplies, contractors, and other operational needs. The budget also includes a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for staff ($6,063), funding for quality improvement ($17,500), and funding for staff training, materials, and conference attendance ($11,250).  

The City is required to provide a matching in-kind contribution of $120,283.  The matching in-kind funds are provided through a variety of sources that include: volunteer services received through parent participation and community activities; discounted consultant services; food program income; and the value of City staff salaries that are not fully reimbursed by administrative charges allowed by the program.  The City has always met its matching funds requirement.

OCHS funding requirements mandate that the City annually provide a submission that includes a Certification of Non-Profit Status and a Letter of Authorization of Signatures. The Certification of Non-Profit Status identifies the City of La Habra as a Not-for-Profit Corporation and the Letter of Authorization allows designated City of La Habra employees to sign correspondence with OCH, as authorized by the City Council

The La Habra EHS program is a federally funded program administered through a grant received from OCHS.  All direct program costs are paid through the grant and the grant provides funds to reimburse related administrative services such as Information Technology, Finance Department support and auditing, and Community Services Department management.  No General Funds support the program.