2023-13793. Tribal Consultation Meetings

AGENCY:

Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION:

Notice of meetings.

SUMMARY:

Pursuant to the Head Start Act, notice is hereby given of two tribal consultation sessions to be held between HHS/ACF OHS leadership and the leadership of tribal governments operating Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The purpose of these consultation sessions is to discuss ways to better meet the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and their families, taking into consideration funding allocations, distribution formulas, and other issues affecting the delivery of Head Start services in their geographic locations. Two tribal consultations will be held as part of HHS/ACF or ACF Tribal Consultation Sessions.

DATES:

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

ADDRESSES:

• September 13, 2023—1–4 p.m. ET (Virtual)
• December 5, 2023—2–5 p.m. PT (Hilton Costa Mesa, 3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Todd Lertjuntharangool, Regional Program Manager, Region XI/AIAN, Office of Head Start, email [e-mail], or phone [phone]. Additional information and online meeting registration will be forthcoming.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with section 640(l)(4) of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9835(1)(4), ACF announces OHS Tribal Consultation Sessions for leaders of tribal governments operating Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

The agenda for the scheduled OHS Tribal Consultations reflects the statutory purposes of Head Start tribal consultations related to meeting the needs of AI/AN children and families. OHS will also highlight the progress made in addressing issues and concerns raised in the previous OHS Tribal Consultations.

The consultation sessions include elected or appointed leaders of Tribal governments and their designated representatives. Designees must have a letter from the Tribal government authorizing them to represent the Tribe. Tribal governments must submit the designee letter at least 3 days before the consultation sessions to Todd Lertjuntharangool at [e-mail]. Other representatives of tribal organizations and Native nonprofit organizations are welcome to attend as observers.

Within 45 days of the consultation sessions, a detailed report of each consultation session will be available for all tribal governments receiving funds for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Tribes can submit written testimony for the report to Todd Lertjuntharangool at [e-mail] prior to each consultation session or within 30 days of each meeting. OHS will summarize oral testimony and comments from the consultation sessions in each report without attribution, along with topics of concern and recommendations.

Megan E. Steel,

ACF Certifying Officer.