Press Release
☷HHS Announces Increased Investment in Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start Partnership Program
Administration for Children and Families ( By Press Release office)
Oct 22,2023
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The U . S . Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) recently announced that the Administration for Children and Families ( ACF ) will be providing $2 million in funding for the Tribal Colleges and Universities ( TCU ) - Head Start partnership program . This program aims to support American Indian and Alaska Native ( AIAN ) Head Start programs by investing in degrees and credentials for their staff . The total annual investment in this partnership has now been increased to $8 million per year . By 2028 , it is expected that over 700 tribal educators will graduate with a degree in early childhood education through this initiative . ACF Acting Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild expressed the importance of this partnership , as it helps Native Americans build careers in early childhood education and addresses the staffing needs of tribal Head Start programs . The TCUs that have received grants have tailored their proposals to meet the unique needs , strengths , and resources of their local AIAN communities . These partnerships have a successful track record of increasing the number of early childhood educators in tribal communities by setting targets for degrees and credentials . The additional funding will enable TCUs to expand access to higher education programs , promote cultural and linguistic Indigenous knowledge , provide scholarships , and support students pursuing degrees in early care and education . Khari Garvin , Director of the ACF Office of Head Start , emphasized that each TCU - Head Start partnership is designed to honor the culture and language of the tribe , while also addressing staffing challenges in the early childhood sector . The program aims to promote indigenous culture and education , fostering lifelong learning and cultural preservation . The 2023 grant recipients of the TCU - Head Start partnership program include Bay Mills Community College , College of Menominee Nation , and Salish Kootenai Community College . They join a cohort of previous grant recipients such as Navajo Technical University , Salish Kootenai Community College , Stone Child Community College , Fond Du Lac Community College , White Earth Community College , and Cankdeska Cikana Community College .
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