Review of Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc.'s, Compliance with Health and Safety Regulations for Head Start Programs

摘要

Within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start (OHS), administers the Head Start and Early Head Start programs. We refer collectively to both programs as the Head Start program. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, Congress appropriated $7.1 billion to fund the programs regular operations. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, P.L. No. 111-5 (Recovery Act), provides an additional $2.1 billion for the Head Start program during FYs 2009 and 2010. Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc. (the Grantee), provides Head Start services to preschoolers and their families through a comprehensive early childhood development program at two facilities (the Nathaniel Ely School and the Ben Franklin Center) in Norwalk, Connecticut. For program year 2009, OHS awarded approximately $1.46 million in Federal Head Start funds to the Grantee to provide services to 275 children. On July 15, 2009, the Grantee also received $130,317 in Recovery Act funding. Our objective was to determine whether the Grantee complied with applicable Federal and State regulations on ensuring the health and safety of children in its care.