INFORMATION MEMORANDUM [See Attachment at the bottom]

TO: Early Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

COPY TO: Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: EHS Organizational Readiness Chart

INFORMATION: For your information, we are sending you an attached copy of the Early Head Start Organizational Readiness Chart. The Chart was developed by the Head Start Bureau with input from the Regional Office and the Head Start Quality Improvement Centers and Disability-Quality Improvement Centers (QICs). It is intended to be used by the QICs and Early Head Start (EHS) grantees as a guide to support EHS programs throughout the first year of start-up, planning and implementation. All EHS grantees must achieve full operational status and enrollment no later than one year from the date of the initial grant award. The Chart is intended to bring attention to a comprehensive and sequential set of start-up, planning and implementation activities and actions that each EHS grantee should address within the first year of funding.

The QICs are required to conduct, at a minimum, a total of three site visits to every new EHS program, including newly expanded EHS programs, during the first year following the grant award. QIC staff will use the Chart while on-site and assess, in partnership with the EHS grantee, whether the EHS program is on target to be fully operational and enrolled within the required year. The QIC staff will work closely with EHS grantees during the first year of funding to provide training and technical assistance based on the individual needs of your program.

QIC staff are required to submit copies of the EHS Organizational Readiness Chart to the Regional Office and to the Head Start Bureau twice during an EHS program's first year of funding (once after the first six months and again at the end of the tenth month). A copy will always be left on-site with the grantee. Federal Staff will utilize the information in the Chart to enhance their understanding and support of EHS grantees' progress, strengths and challenges during this critical first year.

EHS grantees are encouraged to use the EHS Organizational Readiness Chart to support their own on-going assessment of their progress towards building a quality EHS program.
Please call your Regional Office Program Specialist, if you have further questions regarding the EHS Organizational Readiness Chart.

/S/
Helen H. Taylor
Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau

Attachments:
[Attachment 1:] EHS Organizational Readiness Chart