Tribal Early Childhood Facilities Combined Application Guide

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.

The latest form for Tribal Early Childhood Facilities Combined Application Guide expires 2027-05-31 and can be found here.