[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 185 (Monday, September 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48877-48879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23767]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Announcement of Financial Assistance To Expand Head Start 
Enrollment to Unserved Communities

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), ACF, 
DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Head Start Bureau of the Administration on Children, Youth 
and Families announces that competing applications will be accepted to 
fund new Head Start services in:
    (1) Counties (or sub-county areas) not currently served by Head 
Start (see Appendix A);
    (2) Federally-recognized American Indian reservations and Alaska 
Native villages not currently served by Head Start and;
    (3) States where Head Start services are not available for the 
children of migrant farmworkers (Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, 
Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Nevada, New 
Mexico, and the State of Louisiana outside the Parishes of Tangipahoa, 
St. Helena, and St. Tammany.
    It is expected that a total of approximately $4,000,000 will be 
awarded under this Announcement Program. These funds were appropriated 
in fiscal year 2001 with authority to expend them in fiscal year 2002.
    The Head Start program is authorized by the Head Start Act, 42 
U.S.C. 9831 et seq., as amended.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications is January 14, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Address applications to: Head Start Unserved Communities 
Competition, ACYF Operations Center, 1815 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 
300, Arlington, VA 22209, Phone # 1-800-351-2293.
    Copies of the program announcement and necessary application forms 
can be downloaded from the Head Start Web site at: www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ACYF Operations Center at: 1815 N. 
Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209, or telephone: 1-800-
351-2293 or email to: [email protected].

Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will be reviewed and evaluated on the following 
criteria:

1. Objectives and Need for Assistance (20 Points)

    The extent to which the application provides current data on the 
needs of young children, families, and communities for expanded Head 
Start services, including analyses of changes in poverty and family 
mobility, employment opportunities and welfare reform, and any special 
unserved or underserved populations or groups.
    The extent to which the application provides convincing evidence of 
the involvement and support of other organizations serving low-income 
families in assessing family and community needs and resources, 
developing proposed plans and strategies, and in active partnerships to 
implement the proposed expansion.

2. Results or Benefits Expected (10 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant identifies the results and 
benefits to be derived from the project and links these to the stated 
objectives.
    The extent to which the applicant describes the kinds of data to be 
collected and how they will be utilized to measure progress towards the 
stated results or benefits.

3. Approach (25 Points)

    The extent to which the application includes a detailed, well-
organized, and credible plan of action to carry out the proposed 
expansion of Head Start services, including plans for recruitment and 
selection of children, arrangements for transportation and facilities 
and plans for start-up of the new services.
    The extent to which the application includes clear plans and a 
demonstrated commitment to implement the Head Start Program Performance 
Standards, including involvement of parents and families in program 
design and decision making.
    The extent to which the application proposes, where possible, to 
collaborate with other community providers to deliver a high quality, 
cost-effective Head Start program.
    The extent to which the application provides sound, cost-effective 
staffing, organizational and management strategies, including staff 
training and development to ensure that the expansion provides high 
quality and responsive services.

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    The extent to which the application demonstrates a sound strategy 
for facilitating the transition of Head Start children from the Head 
Start program to the local school system by coordinating with the local 
education agency and the local schools who will be enrolling Head Start 
children.

4. Organizational Capacity & Experience (20 Points)

    The extent of the demonstrated capacity of the applicant 
organization, key leaders and managers and, where appropriate, proposed 
partnering organizations in:
    Providing high quality, responsive services to young children and 
families, including evidence of the capability to meet the Head Start 
Program Performance Standards; Managing expansion of program services 
in an effective and timely manner; and
    Managing successful partnerships to serve young children and their 
families that involve sharing resources, staffing and facilities.

5. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Appropriateness (25 Points)

    The extent to which the proposed budget is reasonable, appropriate 
and cost effective in view of the proposed services, strategies and 
anticipated outcomes.
    The extent to which the applicant has mobilized significant 
additional resources to complement Head Start expansion funds.

Executive Order 12372--Notification Process

    This program is covered under Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR part 100, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services 
Programs and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own 
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance 
under covered programs.
    All States and territories except Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, 
Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, 
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, 
Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, 
Washington, American Samoa, and Palau have elected to participate in 
the Executive Order process and have established Single Points of 
Contact (SPOCs). Applicants from these jurisdictions need not take 
action regarding Executive Order 12372.
    Applicants for projects to be administered by Federally recognized 
Indian tribes are also exempt from the requirements of Executive Order 
12372. Otherwise, applicants should contact their SPOC as soon as 
possible to alert them to the prospective application and to receive 
any necessary instructions. Applicants must submit any required 
material to the SPOC as soon as possible so that the program office can 
obtain and review SPOC comments as part of the award process. It is 
imperative that the applicant submit all required materials, if any, to 
the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal (or the date of 
contact if no submittal is required) on the Standard Form 424, item 
16a.
    Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application 
deadline date to comment on proposed new or competing continuation 
awards.
    SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine 
endorsements as official recommendations.
    Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly differentiate between 
mere advisory comments and those official State process recommendations 
which may trigger the ``accommodate or explain'' rule.
    When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be 
addressed to: William Wilson, Head Start Bureau, Grants Officer, Room 
2220, 330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: Head Start 
Unserved Communities Competition.
    A list of Single Points of Contact for each State and territory can 
be found at the following web site: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 93.600, 
Project Head Start)

    Dated: September 19, 2001.
James A. Harrell,
Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.

Appendix A

                     Counties Unserved by Head Start
                                [8/31/01]
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                 State                               County
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California............................  Alpine County
Colorado..............................  Baca County
                                        Cheyenne County
                                        Custer County
                                        Dolores County
                                        Douglas County
                                        Grand County
                                        Gunnison County
                                        Hinsdale County
                                        Jackson County
                                        Kiowa County
                                        Kit Carson County
                                        Mineral County
                                        Ouray County
                                        Phillips County
                                        Pitkin County
                                        Rio Blanco County
                                        Routt County
                                        San Juan County
                                        San Miguel County
                                        Sedgwick County
                                        Summit County
                                        Teller County
Georgia...............................  Chattahoochee County
                                        Echols County
                                        Taliaferro County
Idaho.................................  Butte County
                                        Clark County
                                        Custer County
                                        Southern Bannock County
                                        Fremont County
                                        Jefferson County
                                        Lemhi County
                                        Madison County
Iowa..................................  Adair County
Kansas................................  Barber County
                                        Chase County
                                        Chautauqua County
                                        Clark County
                                        Comanche County
                                        Edwards County
                                        Elk County
                                        Greeley County
                                        Greenwood County
                                        Hamilton County
                                        Harper County
                                        Hodgeman County
                                        Kiowa County
                                        Lane County
                                        Lincoln County
                                        Meade County
                                        Mitchell County
                                        Morris County
                                        Morton County
                                        Ness County
                                        Osbourne County
                                        Osage County
                                        Rooks County
Minnesota.............................  Cook County

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Montana...............................  Big Horn County
                                        Carbon County
                                        Carter County
                                        Chouteau County
                                        Daniels County
                                        Fallon County
                                        Lake County
                                        McCone County
                                        Powder River County
                                        Prairie County
                                        Roosevelt County
                                        Rosebud County
                                        Sheridan County
                                        Stillwater County
                                        Sweet Grass County
                                        Treasure County
                                        Yellowstone National Park County
Nebraska..............................  Arthur County
                                        Banner County
                                        Blaine County
                                        Boyd County
                                        Dixon County
                                        Dundy County
                                        Gosper County
                                        Grant County
                                        Hayes County
                                        Hooker County
                                        Johnson County
                                        Keya Paha County
                                        Logan County
                                        Loup County
                                        McPherson County
                                        Perkins County
                                        Pierce County
                                        Rock County
                                        Sioux County
                                        Thomas County
                                        Washington County
                                        Wheeler County
Nevada................................  Douglas County
                                        Esmeralda County
                                        Eureka County
                                        Lander County
                                        Lincoln County
                                        Nye County
                                        Pershing County
                                        Storey County
New Mexico............................  Harding County
                                        Los Alamos County
North Carolina........................  Polk County
North Dakota..........................  Burke County
                                        Divide County
                                        Grant County
                                        McKenzie County
                                        Mercer County
                                        Mountrail County
                                        Oliver County
                                        Renville County
                                        Rolette County
                                        Sioux County
                                        Dewey County
                                        Todd County
                                        Ziebach County
Oklahoma..............................  Dewey County
Texas.................................  Armstrong County
                                        Borden County
                                        Briscoe County
                                        Carson County
                                        Cochran County
                                        Culberson County
                                        Franklin County
                                        Dickens County
                                        Hansford County
                                        Hartley County
                                        Hemphill County
                                        Jack County
                                        Jeff Davis County
                                        Kennedy County
                                        Kent County
                                        King County
                                        Lipscomb County
                                        Loving County
                                        McMullen County
Texas.................................  Motley County
                                        Oldham County
                                        Presidio County
                                        Rains County
                                        Roberts County
                                        Sherman County
                                        Stonewall County
                                        Terrell County
                                        Throcknorton County
                                        Wheeler County
                                        Winkler County
Utah..................................  Daggett County
                                        Sanpete County
Virginia..............................  Prince George County
                                        Colonial Heights County
Washington State......................  Columbia County
                                        Garfield County
                                        Lincoln County
Wisconsin.............................  Ozaukee County
Wyoming...............................  Teton County
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[FR Doc. 01-23767 Filed 9-21-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P