The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS), is offering $350,000 to fund the establishment of the Region XII Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) Collaboration Office. This office will serve as a coordination hub to facilitate collaboration between Region XII MSHS agencies, providers of early care and education, and various stakeholders that support MSHS children and families. The overarching goal is to ensure the school readiness of MSHS children by aligning services and fostering partnerships at local, state, and national levels. This five-year project requires activities such as conducting annual needs assessments, developing a strategic plan, establishing an advisory council, and promoting collaborative partnerships to address the unique needs of MSHS children and their families.

The recipient will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive needs assessment within one year of the award and updating it annually. This assessment must gather data from MSHS agencies, federal monitoring reviews, school readiness goals, and Program Information Reports to identify trends and priorities. Based on the results, the recipient will develop a strategic plan to guide the office's activities. This plan will focus on facilitating partnerships, promoting health and mental health services, and ensuring coordinated approaches to family services and educational support throughout the five-year project period.

The recipient must also establish an advisory council composed of six to eight members who have direct knowledge of the needs of MSHS children and families, including enrolled families. This council will meet regularly, at least twice per year, and provide guidance on needs assessments, strategic plans, and collaboration activities. Maintaining strong relationships with the council and key stakeholders, the recipient will ensure the office's initiatives remain responsive to the evolving challenges facing migrant and seasonal agricultural families.

A key aspect of this project is the establishment and maintenance of collaborative relationships between MSHS agencies and national partners that promote health, mental health, and family services. The recipient will be expected to facilitate Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between MSHS agencies and partners and encourage MSHS participation in state and local initiatives to support the transition of children into the elementary school system. The collaboration office will also work with state Head Start Collaboration Offices to align early care and education services, particularly for migrant and seasonal families.

Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; school districts; Native American tribal organizations; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations; small businesses; and faith-based organizations. Individuals, sole proprietorships, and foreign entities are not eligible. The award ceiling, floor, and average projected amount are all set at $350,000 per budget period, with an anticipated start date of September 30, 2025. The project will operate over a 60-month period, consisting of five 12-month budget periods.

Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by January 21, 2025. The application package requires two files: one containing the project description, including the approach, organizational capacity, and budget, and a second file with appendices such as organizational charts, resumes, and proof of legal status. Formatting requirements include double-spacing, specific font sizes, and a page limit of 100 pages. Late or improperly formatted applications, or those exceeding the award ceiling, will not be considered. The successful recipient will work closely with OHS, which will provide consultation, review, and approval of strategic plans, materials, and project designs as part of its substantial involvement under the cooperative agreement.