On April 21, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Head Start announced that families currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would now be automatically eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services, including school readiness, nutrition and family support. Previously, this option only existed for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI).  

Counties administer, operate and contribute to the funding of federal safety net programs that help vulnerable residents thrive, including both SNAP and Head Start/Early Head Start. This new expanded eligibility will provide additional benefits for SNAP recipients and counties that administer the programs including better coordination between programs, reduced administrative burden and new eligibility for food-insecure children and families. 

Counties strongly support efforts to bolster enrollment into critical programs that develop early learning skills in social and emotional well-being, healthy lifestyles, language and literacy skills, mathematics and other academic needs. NACo will continue to monitor federal actions that support and facilitate integrated delivery of social services programs. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• NACo Toolkit: The County Human Services and Education Landscape
• NACo Blog: USDA announces $5 million in competitive grants for SNAP modernization
• NACo Policy Brief: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Reauthorization and Appropriations
• NACo Legislative Toolkit: Priorities for Strengthening the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Counties for Kids Campaign