Use of Federal Early Childhood Program Funds to Improve Housing Related Supports for the Early Childhood Workforce in Tribal Communities

TO: Tribal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) lead agencies, 

American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Head Start award recipients, and Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) recipients

SUBJECT: Use of Federal Early Childhood Program Funds to Improve Access to Housing-Related Supports for the Early Childhood Workforce in Tribal Communities

REFERENCES: The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act (42 U.S.C. 9857 et seq.), Head Start Act as amended (42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.), Social Security Act, Title V, section 511 (42 U.S.C. 711)

PURPOSE: This Information Memorandum (IM) provides an overview and guidance to Tribal CCDF lead agencies, American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Head Start award recipients, and Tribal MIECHV recipients regarding how CCDF, Head Start, and Tribal MIECHV funds can be used to address challenges recruiting and retaining an effective Tribal early childhood workforce serving Tribal communities where access to affordable housing is limited. This IM does not reflect a change in ACF’s interpretation for how CCDF, Head Start, and Tribal MIECHV funds can be used, it clarifies allowable uses of funds to support costs related to increasing the availability of affordable, accessible housing for the early childhood workforce serving Tribal communities.

BACKGROUND: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is committed to supporting Tribes in recruiting and retaining an early childhood workforce that meets the needs of children and families in Tribal communities. The Office of Head Start (OHS), Office of Child Care (OCC), and Office of Early Childhood Development (ECD) engages in consultation with Tribal leaders to honor the nation-to-nation relationship and to better understand the unique circumstances and experiences of Tribal early childhood programs. In consultations and other engagements, Tribal leaders and program administrators highlighted ongoing challenges recruiting and retaining a qualified workforce across Head Start, child care, and home visiting programs. Challenges include: recruiting individuals with appropriate qualifications and experience (such as knowledge of or expertise in Native culture and language); providing adequate compensation (including both pay and benefits); competing with pay and benefits offered by other employers and non-Tribal entities; and the high levels of stress experienced by staff due to low wages, insufficient benefits, and working conditions, as well as the challenging nature of providing trauma-informed care to young children.