No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to identify and review evidence-based interventions, best practices, curricula, and staff trainings that improve behavioral health for children in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. It requires focus on those deliverable by program staff, linked to later mental health outcomes, using tiered prevention (universal, selected, and indicated), incorporating trauma-informed care, effective across populations, and supporting staff wellness. The Secretary must determine appropriate credentials, consult experts and solicit public input, complete initial reviews within 2 years of enactment with updates every 5 years, and report results to Congress 1 year after enactment and every 5 years thereafter.
This section directs the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families to award grants to Head Start agencies to implement interventions, best practices, curricula, and staff trainings identified under section 2. It requires that grantees represent a diversity of geographic areas across the United States, including urban, suburban, and rural areas.
This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families, to develop a method and determine within 2 years of enactment whether interventions, best practices, curricula, and staff trainings in Head Start and Early Head Start programs achieve anticipated effect sizes and yield long-term savings. The Secretary must update the method and determination at least every 5 years, using competency testing, performance measures, or other approaches while considering existing program monitoring and soliciting public input.
This section directs the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families to implement a voluntary evaluation method for interested Head Start programs and Early Head Start centers to assess the effectiveness of specified interventions, best practices, curricula, and staff trainings with minimal burden or disruption. It also requires the Assistant Secretary to provide guidance, tools, resources, and technical assistance to grantees to support implementation, evaluation, and performance on annual evaluations.
This section authorizes the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families to fund up to 5 Best Practice Centers in Early Childhood Training at universities and colleges. The centers prepare future Head Start agencies and staff to deliver interventions, best practices, curricula, and trainings identified under section 2.
This section authorizes appropriations of $100 million for fiscal years 2027 through 2036 to carry out sections 3(b), 4, and 6, with amounts remaining available until expended.