Early head start

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded Easter Seals Serving DC / MD / VA, Inc. $2.485 million on July 1, 2026, under the Early Head Start program (CFDA 93.600) for the five-year period ending June 30, 2031.

Early Head Start delivers comprehensive early childhood education, health and nutritional support, family engagement, and case management services to low-income infants, toddlers, and pregnant women. Easter Seals operates this program across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. This award represents Easter Seals' second concurrent Early Head Start project grant from the Office of Head Start; the organization also holds a $2.61 million Early Head Start award effective through July 2030.

Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the cognitive, physical, behavioral, and social-emotional development of children through educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services. The program operates in every state, many tribal nations, and several U.S. territories through approximately 1,600 local agencies. Awards are made for five-year periods, with recipients eligible for renewal based on meeting specified performance criteria. Non-competing continuations are issued based on satisfactory progress, compliance with terms and conditions, and a determination that continuation is in the federal government's best interest.