Description
This FOA is modified to extend the application due date to Thursday, July 23, 2015 to avoid the Grants.gov scheduled maintenance beginning at 12:01 AM EDT on Saturday July 18, 2015 until Monday, July 20, 2015 at 6:00 AM EDT. The title of this announcement has changed to the “National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness.” The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS) in partnership with the Office of Child Care (OCC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)/Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)/Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems (DHVECS) announces the availability of an estimated $6,682,500 to be competitively awarded for a National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness (NCECHW). The NCECHW will disseminate high-quality, research-informed resources and will provide training and technical assistance (T/TA) to Head Start and Early Head Start agencies, state child care agencies, and other early care and education settings across regions, states, tribes and territories. The resources and T/TA will address services to pregnant women and the health, safety and school readiness of infants, toddlers, and preschool children (from birth to age five). The NCECHW will provide resources and T/TA that promote the health and developmental potential of children and families in the United States in order to get them school ready and live healthy, productive, and happy lives. In addition, the NCECHW will provide resources and T/TA in order to: Improve the health and safety of Early Care and Education (ECE) settings; Promote positive child health outcomes for children participating in ECE programs; Increase preventive services related to health outcomes; Promote access to continuous, accessible health services for children and families; and Promote mental wellness and resiliency for staff, children, pregnant women and families; and Strengthen networks and coordination of ECE programs and child health professionals. In addition, the NCECHW will maximize the use of previously developed, web-based materials and resources that are consistent with OHS, OCC, and HRSA/MCHB national priorities. The NCECHW will work collaboratively and cooperatively with the other OHS and OCC National T/TA Centers and ACF’s regional offices. Because of the complex work the NCECHW will conduct, they are encouraged to bring together a parntership and/or a consortium of knowledgeable partners within the field of early childhood health and wellness. The work of the NCECHW should be research/evidence informed as well as practical in application by way of training and technical assistance within the field of early childhood health and wellness.