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The Office of Early Childhood Development’s (ECD) Office of Head Start (OHS) and Office of Child Care (OCC) published an Information Memorandum (IM) on Use of Federal Early Childhood Program Funds to Improve Access to Housing-Related Supports for the Early Childhood Workforce in Tribal Communities on November 1, 2024.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is committed to supporting Tribes in recruiting and retaining an early childhood workforce that meets the needs of children and families in Tribal communities. In Tribal consultation and other engagements with Tribal leaders and program administrators, Tribes have highlighted ongoing challenges with accessing affordable housing as a significant barrier to recruiting and retaining early childhood staff to work in their communities. In response to this feedback, the ECD, OHS, and OCC released new joint policy guidance, Use of Federal Early Childhood Program Funds to Improve Access to Housing-Related Supports for the Early Childhood Workforce in Tribal Communities. The guidance to Tribal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Lead Agencies, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Head Start award recipients, and Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) recipients details how CCDF, Head Start, and Tribal MIECHV funds can be used to address challenges recruiting and retaining an effective Tribal early childhood workforce serving Tribal communities where access to affordable housing is limited. This IM clarifies the flexibilities Tribal Lead Agencies and federal award recipients have in using program funds to improve access to housing-related supports for early childhood teachers and staff. The IM is available here and on the OCC website.