New Supplemental Funding for Head Start Children and Families Aims to Boost Nutrition Services

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) today announced the availability of one-time supplemental funding to enhance nutrition services and promote healthy eating for children and families enrolled in Head Start programs nationwide. This initiative directly supports the Make America Healthy Again agenda by investing in nutrition education and healthy eating habits that build stronger, healthier communities from the earliest ages.

“Make America Healthy Again wants to protect America’s most vulnerable children from frequent exposure to poisonous ultra processed foods,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison. “Increasing access to whole foods and nutrient-dense meals while emphasizing parental nutrition education in Head Start is one way ACF is addressing the causes of chronic disease.”

The supplemental funding will allow Head Start programs to make significant improvements to their nutrition services through four key areas:

• Food Service Upgrades: Modernizing kitchen facilities, procuring fresh and locally sourced foods, and creating designated breastfeeding spaces
• Materials, Supplies, and Equipment: Providing commercial-grade appliances, food preparation tools, and gardening supplies for farm-to-table initiatives
• Nutrition Education Resources: Developing nutrition programming and curricula, and hosting workshops for families on nutrition and wellness topics
• Non-Recurring Personnel Costs: Consulting with specialized staff such as registered dieticians and nutritionists to develop meal plans and provide nutrition counseling

"Nutrition is a cornerstone of Head Start's comprehensive services. In our programs, we are educating families on habits that can break generational cycles of poor health outcomes,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development Dr. Laurie Todd-Smith.

For more information about the process for supplemental funding, see the Program Instruction: One-time Supplemental Funds for Nutrition and Healthy Eating for Head Start Children and Families . 

To learn more about Head Start programs implementing High-quality Nutrition Programming in the Field visit HeadStart.gov . 

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