Recipients of both the Tribal Child
Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program and the American Indian
and Alaska Native (AIAN) Head Start program can apply to use
funding to construct or improve early childhood facilities in
Tribal communities. Funding for facilities under the CCDF is
authorized by Section 658O(c)(6) of the Child Care and Development
Block Grant (CCDBG) Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9858(c)(6) and is managed by
the Office of Child Care (OCC). Funding for Head Start facilities
projects is authorized by 45 CFR Part 1303 (Subpart E) Head Start
Program Performance Standards and is managed by the Office of Head
Start (OHS). Application submission and review processes are
currently unique to each respective funding stream. OHS and OCC
have separate processes to collect applications for facility
construction and major renovation from Tribal CCDF Lead Agencies
and American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Head Start programs
(see OMB # 0970-0160 and 0970-0207) and these are reviewed and
approved separately by OHS and OCC respectively. The guide provides
instructions to Tribal CCDF Lead Agencies and AIAN Head Start
programs on submitting joint plans for using both CCDF and Head
Start funds to conduct facilities construction and major renovation
projects that will enable the programs to better serve current AIAN
families or increase enrollment currently limited by inadequate
facilities. The Tribal Early Childhood Facilities Combined
Application Guide provides critical information and resources, so
recipients understand the requirements of each program and develop
plans that reflect the needs of their communities. This guide
streamlines the process for Tribal CCDF Lead Agencies and AIAN Head
Start programs submitting collaborative, joint applications to use
federal CCDF and Head Start funds for facilities projects where
funds can be used for reasonable costs and fees related to planning
for a facilities project, and to support the application
development in Tribal communities. Reducing and streamlining
administrative burdens for Tribal constituents follows policy
priorities laid out in the 2022 HHS Equity Action Plan and is in
alignment with Executive Order 14095 – Executive Order on
Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers.
Additionally, this effort advances equity for individuals belonging
to AIAN groups that have been historically underserved,
marginalized, or subject to discrimination or systemic
disadvantage, including those referenced in EO 13985 – Advancing
Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the
Federal Government and the 2022 HHS Equity Action Plan. When
initially approved in May 2024, the relevant program regulations
were not final. These regulations, 45 CFR Parts 1301, 1302, 1303,
1304, and 1305, were finalized on 08/21/2024 (89 FR 67720). As a
result, the ACF Office of Early Childhood Development made minor
updates to the guide to reflect these changes. These updates do not
change the content in a substantive way, nor the process for
programs to submit their applications.
US Code:
42 USC 9858(c)(6) Name of Law: Section 658O(c)(6) of the Child
Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.