The 2000 Family Income Guidelines

ACYF Administration on Children, Youth and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families
	1. Log No. ACYF-IM-HS-00-10	2. Issuance Date: 03/14/00
	3. Originating Office: Head Start Bureau
	4. Key Word: Income Guidelines

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM [See Attachment at the bottom]

TO: Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: The 2000 Family Income Guidelines

INFORMATION: Section 645 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840) establishes income eligibility for participation in Head Start programs by reference to the official poverty line, adjusted annually in accordance with changes in the Consumer Price Index. The attached 2000 Family Income Guidelines, published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2000 (Vol. 65, No. 31, pp. 7555-7557), reflect revised poverty data and must be used to determine Head Start eligibility for low-income families.

The attached definition of "income" which is used by Head Start is derived from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series pp-60-185 and earlier reports in the same series. It provides a more detailed guidance on the term "income" than is found in 45 CFR 1305.2(i). The definition of "family" to be used in determining eligibility is found in 45 CFR 1305.2(e), which defines family as all persons living in the same household who are:

(1) Supported by the income of the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child enrolling or participating in the program, and (2) related to the parent(s) or guardian(s) by blood, marriage or adoption.

Persons with internet access are encouraged to visit our Head Start website at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/ (regs/policy) for this IM, and also other pertinent eligibility information. For example, ACYF-PI-HS-99-06, Receipt of Public Assistance and Determining Eligibility for Head Start, issued 7/29/99, provides assistance in the Head Start eligibility assessment of TANF participants.

Also the Child Care Bureau's website at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ccb/ (policy) provides Child Care and Head Start collaboration eligibility determination information such as ACYF-PIQ-CC-99-02, issued 2/8/99. This issuance encourages Lead Agencies to establish a different eligibility period for children in collaboratively funded slots.

Questions about the Income Guidelines should be addressed to your ACF Regional Office or the American Indian or Migrant Programs Branches. This Memorandum replaces ACYF-HS-IM-99-03, dated March 18, 1999.

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

CC:Regional Administrators, ACF, Regions I-X
American Indian and Migrant Programs Branches

Attachment:
The Guidelines Income Family 2000