In April 2022, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued new guidance and an Information Memoranda (IM) announcing the long-awaited, family-friendly policy of permitting families and guardians to use proof of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) receipt or eligibility as a pathway to enroll in Head Start. This policy shift is based upon the interpretation of the phrase “public assistance” in Sec. 645 of the Head Start Act.
The COVID pandemic precipitated a decline in the availability of both, public and private child care programs. The inability of families to secure child care forced a significant amount of parents and an overwhelming amount of women to leave the workplace. The pandemic also created a different type of paradox within Head Start programs. Some child care programs were forced to close completely or reduce classrooms due to the inability to stay financially afloat as a result of parents leaving the workforce. In contrast, the child care programs funded by the Office of Head Start (OHS) did not experience the same type of financial uncertainty. Head Start staff were financially able to operate and pay their Head Start funded employees throughout the pandemic. However, Head Start programs struggled to maintain full-enrollment and to retain teachers during the heightened public health emergency.
A fully enrolled Head Start program must have families that are willing to enroll their children in a Head Start program and also the ability of those families to prove that they, in fact, are eligible for Head Start services. Consequently, the decision to allow categorical eligibility for SNAP recipients produces a positive outcome for the families and a parallel positive outcome for Head Start programs. Adopting this interpretation will make it easier for eligible families to enroll children in Head Start services by allowing families to demonstrate proof of SNAP receipt or eligibility to enroll in Head Start thereby simplifying the process of determining program eligibility for grantees.
It must be acknowledged, that establishing and announcing SNAP benefit recipients as “categorically eligible” for Head Start enrollment is not a complete solution for families seeking Head Start enrollment. The policy is only permissive. Meaning, programs can decide to apply SNAP categorical eligibility or they can also choose to not use SNAP categorical eligibility. Head Start programs must adhere to their recruitment and selection criteria to ensure they prioritize enrollment for those who may benefit most from Head Start services. This permissive element of the SNAP policy interpretation does create an unintended but possible consequence of discouraging families that attempt to access Head Start services using their SNAP benefits but are denied services because the Head Start program has not adapted their Eligibility, Retention, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) practices in favor or support of SNAP categorical eligibility.
Most young children in SNAP households are in families with incomes below 100% of poverty. However, historically, a family would be required to provide a large number of pay stubs, an official statement of unemployment from an official source, or other proof of income to establish eligibility. In comparison, SNAP eligibility can be determined by a single document or even, just the SNAP benefit card used to purchase food. Since programs can now use the receipt of SNAP benefits as establishing categorical eligibility, the family will not be subjected to the time and anxiety burden caused by having to produce paystubs in order to construct an income history. Permitting Head Start enrollment eligibility on the basis of SNAP eligibility, effectively, knocks down a barrier for families determined to access early childhood education services. SNAP categorical eligibility serves as a balance of inequities when applied to the ERSEA process. Categorical eligibility is a lever of social change and economic justice. It is important to note that Head Start programs must continue to use their ERSEA established selection criteria to prioritize the enrollment of families most in need of services.
To verify SNAP receipt or potential eligibility, a program would need to examine and maintain a copy of documentation from the state, local, or tribal public assistance. Families can use:
The Council for Professional Recognition supports Head Start programs and the early childhood education community as they move forward in increasing access to families by removing barriers to Head Start enrollment. We are eager to highlight community partnerships and outreach efforts for ways to encourage SNAP recipients to apply for Head Start services on behalf of children and families.
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With over 25 years of experience in early childhood education (ECE), Elisa has dedicated her career to developing impactful programs, professional development opportunities, and public policies that support working families, young children, and ECE staff. Before joining the Council, Elisa held numerous roles within the childcare industry. Most recently, she served as Associate Vice President at The Learning Experience and as Senior Manager at KinderCare Education, where she influenced government affairs and public policies across 40 states.
Elisa’s commitment to leadership is reflected in her external roles on the Early Care and Education Consortium Board of Directors, the Florida Chamber Foundation Board of Trustees, and as the DEI Caucus Leader for KinderCare Education. She has been recognized as an Emerging Leader in Early Childhood by Childcare Exchange’s Leadership Initiative.
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In Janie’s prior role, she was the Vice President of Administration at Equal Justice Works, where she was responsible for leading human resources, financial operations, facilities management, and information technology. She was also accountable for developing and implementing Equal Justice Works Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy focused on attracting diverse, mission-oriented talent and creating an inclusive and equitable workplace environment. With more than fifteen years of private, federal, and not-for-profit experience, Janie is known for her intuitive skill in administration management, human resources management, designing and leading complex system change, diversity and inclusion, and social justice reform efforts.
Before joining Equal Justice Works, Janie was the Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for Global Communities, where she was responsible for the design, implementation, and management of integrated HR and diversity strategies. Her work impacted employees in over twenty-two countries. She was responsible for the effective management of different cultural, legal, regulatory, and economic systems for both domestic and international employees. Prior to Global Communities, Janie enjoyed a ten-year career with the federal government. As a member of the Senior Executive Service, she held key strategic human resources positions with multiple cabinet-level agencies and served as an advisor and senior coach to leaders across the federal sector. In these roles, she received recognition from management, industry publications, peers, and staff for driving the creation and execution of programs that created an engaged and productive workforce.
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Janie received her M.A. in Organization Development from American University. She holds numerous professional development certificates in Human Capital Management and Change Management, including a Diversity and Inclusion in Human Resources certificate from Cornell University. She completed the year-long Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program sponsored by The Schaefer Center for Public Policy and The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. She is a trained mediator and Certified Professional Coach. She is a graduate of Leadership America, former board chair of the NTL Institute and currently co-steward of the organization’s social justice community of practice, and a member of The Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, Janie is the Board Chairperson for the Special Education Citizens Advisory Council for Prince Georges County where she is active in developing partnerships that facilitate discussion between parents, families, educators, community leaders, and the PG County school administration to enhance services for students with disabilities which is her passion. She and her husband Randolph reside in Fort Washington Maryland.
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