Head Start Youth Mentoring Initiativee
ACYF-PI-HS-04-02

NOTICE: This Issuance has been withdrawn or superseded. It is provided for historical reference only and has no current applicability or effect.

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PROGRAM INSTRUCTION [See Attachment at the bottom]

TO: Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: Head Start Youth Mentoring Initiative.

BACKGROUND:

Grant supplements totaling approximately $10 million nationally are being made available to Head Start and Early Head Start programs to improve services to Head Start children and families through projects that promote the participation of youth in local Head Start programs. Funding to support this effort is authorized under Section 649 of the Head Start Act.

The Head Start Bureau, in collaboration with the Family and Youth Services Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), announces that applications for supplemental funds will be accepted from Head Start grantees wishing to establish or expand positive youth development mentoring programs. These projects will benefit and support grantees' on-going Head Start program while also providing opportunities for youth to invest in their community. Youth could be involved in activities that include, but are not limited to:

• Participating in child and family literacy activities; Enhancing young children's gross motor skills;
• Promoting children's social and emotional development;
• Assisting in language development for children and families who are English Language Learners and;
• Enhancing staff, family, and child computer skills.

In considering the type of program that would work best for your community and its families, you should consider such arrangements as:

• Creating partnerships with local educational agencies, faith-based and community service organizations that can provide youth with community service opportunities in the Head Start program;
• Developing a youth mentor program that focuses on positive role modeling and promotes community service such as reading to Head Start children and;
• Establishing youth work-study projects that model age-appropriate early childhood development practices and promote positive interactions with Head Start children.

In developing this application you may propose using grant funds to reimburse participating youth for costs incurred in participation, such as for meals or transportation costs during the time spent working on the project, if such an approach will help implement the proposed design. Grantees are expected to partner primarily with youth who are enrolled in middle school or high school.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible applicants are current Early Head Start and Head Start grantees.

FUNDING

Applicants may apply for a maximum of $50,000 to cover a period not to exceed one year. The Head Start Bureau understands that cost requirements for different applicants may vary based on several factors, such as the way the program is structured, the costs of operating in different communities and the extent to which resources can be obtained from other funding sources or partners. Applicants should submit a budget which reflects the needs of their particular application.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must submit applications that comply fully with the attached Application Instructions and Requirements including mailing information and the closing date for submission. Applications that do not conform to the application requirements will be screened out and not considered for funding.

All applications will be reviewed by an independent review panel using the attached evaluation criteria. The Commissioner, ACYF, will make the final decision on which applicants will be funded, using the results of the review process as well as other factors such as the need to assure a reasonable geographic distribution of projects, an appropriate balance between urban and rural projects, between large and small projects and the need to fund a variety of different proposed strategies. This is an opportunity for grantees to enhance services to Head Start children and families while providing an opportunity for youth to be involved in meaningful and important work. We encourage you to consider submitting a funding request for this important initiative.

/s/
Joan E. Ohl
Commissioner

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Attachment:

Head Start Youth Mentoring Initiative Application Instructions and Requirements

Part I: General Information

The purpose of this initiative is to improve services to Head Start children and families through the funding of projects that will promote youth participation in local Head Start programs. Funding is limited to current Head Start grantees and may be used to expand current youth mentoring initiatives already existing within your Head Start program or to create new youth mentoring initiatives.

Positive youth development is an approach that builds on the assets and potential of today's youth. Young people are far more likely to succeed if they are active participants in decisions that affect their lives and their communities. Key elements of positive youth development include, but are not limited to, ensuring safe and supportive environments; fostering relationships between young people and caring adults who can mentor and guide them; providing youth with opportunities to pursue their interests and focus on their strengths; supporting the development of youth's knowledge and skills; engaging youth as active participants and leaders who can help move communities forward; providing opportunities for youth to show that they care about others and about society and; promoting healthy lifestyles and teaching positive patterns of social interactions.

Through being mentors to Head Start children and engaging in a wide variety of other possible activities to support Head Start programs, youth will benefit by learning necessary skills and develop a better understanding of how maximize their potential and create positive change in their lives. Head Start children will benefit from positive relationships with role models. Communities will benefit from a new cadre of young adults who will have the necessary skills and commitment to become future community leaders.

Part II: Application Information

Required Forms

Head Start and Early Head Start grantees interested in applying for supplemental funds must submit a completed Standard Form 424 and Standard Form 424A. Applications must also include:

• A project Abstract of no more than one page, including information on the total number of Head Start and youth to be served, the federal funding requested and a statement indicating whether the proposal is for a new initiative or for improving an ongoing initiative.
• The application narrative. This should be no more than 10 pages.
• Attachments/Appendices, when included, should be used only to provide supporting documentation such as resumes, and letters of agreement/support.

Proposals should be no more than 25 pages including appendices, letters of support and other supporting documentation.

Part III: Evaluation Criteria

Competing applications will be reviewed and evaluated against the following six criteria. The point values following each criterion indicate the numerical weight that will be accorded in the review process.

A. Criterion I - Need for Assistance (20 points)

Clearly identify the needs of the both target populations; i.e. the vulnerable youth and the Head Start children and families in your community. Incorporate demographic data and proposed participant information. Include a discussion of anticipated challenges or barriers to providing services. Challenges for some Head Start youth initiatives in the past have included: transportation needs; targeting and selecting youth; schedule conflicts between hours youth are available and Head Start hours; reaching vulnerable youth and appropriate staffing and supervision.

The Head Start Bureau is particularly interested in youth mentoring initiatives which target vulnerable youth. Vulnerable youth may include, but are not limited to: youth living in poverty; youth from single-parent households; youth with disabilities (including potential learning disabilities); youth with limited school success or chronic school absenteeism; youth who are socially isolated; youth from families with abuse and/or neglect concerns and; youth who lack meaningful connections with family, peers, or the community.

B. Criterion II-Approach (25)

The youth development approach is predicated on the understanding that all young people need support, guidance, and opportunities during adolescence, a time of rapid growth and change. With this support, they can develop self-assurance in four areas that are key to creating happy, healthy, and successful lives:

• A sense of competence: being able to do something well;
• A sense of usefulness: having something to contribute;
• A sense of belonging: being part of a community and having relationships with caring adults and;
• A sense of power: having control over one's future.

If these factors are being addressed, and basic needs are being met (food, clothes, health care, safety, and security), young people can become constructively engaged in their communities. The Head Start Bureau is particularly interested in proposed youth mentor initiatives that fully describe how the concept of positive youth development will be demonstrated in the project.

The approach should describe the scope and detail of the proposed project and how it will be accomplished. Identify the role of community partners. Discuss strategies to recruit and retain youth, including potential incentives, and to support youth's success in making meaningful connections in the Head Start program and in the greater community.

Explain why this approach will be effective in light of identified needs, objectives, results, and benefits. Describe research or evidence-based practice to support the chosen approach and activities.

Identify and describe the project's goals for youth and participating Head Start children and families.

Describe and discuss the plan to provide orientation and training to Head Start staff, collaborators, youth and families.

Some possible activities for youth to carry out in Head Start programs include, but are certainly not limited to: child and/or family literacy activities; enhancing young children's gross motor skills; promoting social and emotional development; serving as classroom volunteers; providing additional language development opportunities for children and families who are English Language Learners; enhancing staff, family, and child computer skills, and; enhancing creative arts.

C. Criterion III-Results or Benefits Expected (15)

Describe the results and benefits to youth, children, families, and the community to be derived from the project.

Describe the kinds of data to be collected and how they will be utilized to measure progress toward the stated results or benefits.

The Head Start Bureau is particularly interested in proposed youth mentoring initiatives that incorporate research efforts that will measure individual youth outcomes.

D. Criterion IV-Staff and Position Data (15)

Outline and explain the roles of those staff who will be involved in the project.

The Head Start Bureau is particularly interested in proposals that designate one individual with experience and expertise in working with youth to provide direction, coordination, and ongoing support for the proposed youth initiative.

E. Criterion V- Partnership and Collaborations: (15 points)

For applicants who already have an established youth development initiative, describe the current community partnerships. Describe any proposed strategies to enhance and sustain these current partnerships and provide letters of support and collaboration indicating agreements between partnering organizations.

For Head Start programs that are developing new partnerships and community linkages, describe the collaborative relationships the applicant will develop in order to maximize resources in the community. Describe the systems in place to ensure the commitment of partners.

Describe plans to solicit community partners to assist and to sustain youth development activities beyond the scope of the proposed project.

F. Criterion VI. Budget and Budget Justification: (10 points)

Explain the extent to which the project's costs are reasonable and appropriate in view of the activities to be carried out and the anticipated outcomes. Applicants are to submit a budget which clearly indicates the amount of funds being requested to fully operate a Head Start youth mentor initiative. Provide a narrative budget justification in paragraph form that describes how the costs are derived. Discuss the necessity and reasonableness of the proposed costs.

Explain what efforts the applicant has made or will make to secure other community cash and in-kind resources, besides those shown in the budgets, and what additional resources will be used to support the provision of youth programming. Successful applicants will be given supplements to their current Head Start grant. Each budget, therefore, should include any non-federal share contribution that may be needed to maintain the non-federal share requirements of the applicant's overall Head Start grant.

The request for federal Head Start funds for the length of the project (up to twelve months) cannot exceed $50,000.

Part IV: Mailing Information

The CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT of applications is 5:00p.m. (EDT) July 16, 2004 .

Applications received after the closing date will be classified as late and not considered for funding. Hand delivered, courier or overnight delivery of applications will be received during the normal working hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, on or prior to the established closing date at the address below.

Applications transmitted to ACYF in any electronic form will not be accepted regardless of date of submission. All applications must be in hard copy form to be considered eligible and must include one original and one copy of the application.

Narratives (that part of the proposal which responds to the six criteria noted above) should be no more than 10 pages. Proposals should be no more than 25 total pages, including appendices, letters of support and other supporting documentation.

Mail applications to:

Head Start Youth Mentoring Initiative
ACYF Operations Center
The Dixon Group
118 Q Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ACYF Operations Center 1-866-796-1591 or e-mail at HSB@Dixongroup.com

If you intend to submit an application, please e-mail HSB@Dixongroup.com with the following information: the name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the principal contact and the name of your organization. We need this information in order to determine the number of expert reviewers that will be necessary.