Head start and early head start

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded Scus Head Start Programs Inc. $6.992 million on June 1, 2026, under the Head Start program (CFDA 93.600) to deliver Head Start and Early Head Start services in Tennessee through May 31, 2031.

Scus Head Start Programs Inc., a tax-exempt nonprofit and subsidiary of Save The Children Federation Inc., operates early childhood development programming that includes early learning instruction, health and nutritional support, social-emotional development, and family engagement services for low-income children and families. The organization serves as a prime recipient on comprehensive early childhood grants while also receiving sub-awards for child nutrition reimbursement. The award requires a 20 percent non-federal match.

The Head Start program promotes school readiness by enhancing cognitive, physical, behavioral, and social-emotional development through educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services. Local Head Start programs serve 3- and 4-year-old children in preschool settings, while Early Head Start programs serve infants, toddlers, and pregnant women. Awards are made for five-year periods; recipients demonstrating satisfactory progress and compliance may receive non-competing continuations based on appropriation availability and federal determination of best interest.