Fast Facts:
Quick links to your top questions related to CDI HS!
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National Interim Management Contract |
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We have answers.
1. What is an interim management contractor?As an interim manager, CDI HS assumes responsibility for Head Start/ Early Head Start program operations when the local grantee can no longer operate the program. Our goals during interim management include:
Interim management occurs through a partnership between two, private, non-profit sister corporations with head quarters in Denver, Colorado – CDI and CDI HS. CDI is the National Interim Management Contractor for the Office of Head Start in Washington, D.C. CDI HS is the recipient of grants for operation of the local Head Start and Early Head Start programs under interim management. 2. Why is an interim contractor needed?The Office of Head Start makes a commitment to communities in which a Head Start or Early Head Start grant was awarded. One factor in deciding where Head Start/Early Head Start services will be provided is establishing that there is a need in the community; therefore, the Office of Head Start is making every effort to ensure these services continue with minimal disruption. The Office of Head Start developed the National Interim Management Contract (NIC) to ensure that Head Start/Early Head Start services would not be interrupted when the existing grantee is no longer able to administer the program. NIC allows Head Start/Early Head Start services to continue, through interim management, until the formal process for finding a replacement grantee can be completed and a local, long term grantee is appointed. CDI HS operates programs under this interim management contract. 3. When does CDI HS operate a program?The Federal Office of Head Start appoints CDI HS to operate a program when the existing grantee’s responsibility ceases. Examples of circumstances under which this could occur are: a grantee may be suspended, terminated, or relinquish their grant (voluntary termination). Suspensions and terminations may occur due to financial, health and safety or other issues in operating a program. 4. Where does the local funding for the HS/EHS program go when CDI HS comes in?Local funding for the Head Start/Early Head Start program remains in place for program operations. CDI HS is typically awarded a grant to operate the program for the same dollar amount as was awarded to the prior grantee the previous year. The prior grantee will be responsible for closing out the grant under which they were operating the program independently of CDI HS. CDI HS is awarded a new grant without consequence of “extra money” or deficit from the prior grantee; nothing carries over or is subtracted as a result of operations under the prior grantee. The National Interim Management Contract supports all interim service contract requirements not typical of regular Head Start/Early Head Start program operations. The local program budget is not adversely affected by interim management affiliation. Conversely, the interim management contract enables CDI HS to offer greater support to programs with no impact on the local program budget. For example, the site manager (similar to an executive director) is not paid by the local program budget. See “How does CDI HS operate the program” below for further description on what role a site manager plays in the program. 5. How does CDI HS operate the program?CDI HS’s central management, fiscal, human resources, and information technology departments operate out of headquarters in Denver, CO. Staff based in Denver support overall interim contract and local program operations. In most cases, Denver staff support local program staff in performing their responsibilities. Many of the fiscal and HR functions are performed out of our Denver office – we still need staff at the local program level to perform basic responsibilities in these areas. Our IT department serves as a resource and as support for local program staff or consultants. A CDI HS staff person will visit the program soon after we’ve been requested to serve as the interim manager to talk with local staff about how this may, or may not affect them directly. Each local program will be assigned two primary liaisons with the Denver office: (1) a Denver fiscal specialist will support a fiscal specialist based in the local program and (2) a site manager will support/supervise the program director. The program director will receive a CDI HS job description that includes responsibilities such as:
The site manager will:
6. How long will CDI HS be in our community?
7. When CDI HS leaves, what happens then?When CDI HS’s administration of a program ends, a replacement grantee is ready to take responsibility of the program. Every effort is made to ensure this transition occurs with minimal disruption in program services. The Federal Office of Head Start leads a replacement grantee selection process with careful consideration of applicants’ current capacity, understanding of commitment needed, and ability to comply with the Head Start Program Performance Standards through a well designed program plan. The replacement grantee’s program plan may or may not be similar to what is currently in place. 8. Where is CDI HS’s office – is anyone moving to our community to operate the program?CDI HS’s headquarters is in Denver, Colorado. Overall contract and program management occur out of this office. Please see “How does CDI HS operate the program” above for more information. CDI HS assigns a site manager to each local program with the responsibility of working closely with the Head Start or Early Head Start program director in providing assistance and direction. Through regular visits to the community, the site manager is able to individualize the approach used to ensure each Head Start and Early Head Start program is supported according to its unique needs. CDI HS makes every effort to retain as many staff members from the prior grantee as possible for continuity of program services. Nobody from CDI HS will be moving to your community; consultants may be temporarily assigned to fill vacancies until a local person can be hired. Please visit the sections for Parents, Staff, Vendors, and Community Partners on this website to learn more about how we approach program operations. 9. CDI HS doesn’t know our community. How can it expect to meet our needs?CDI HS is committed to providing high quality Head Start and Early Head Start program services with minimum disruption. We make every effort to keep as much of the program intact as possible within the framework of compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, federal, state, tribal and local regulations. Through the use of Appreciative Inquiry, we promote existing program strengths to make needed improvements toward quality. CDI HS acknowledges that each program has strengths and it is through the staff and community that we learn what is working well and what needs to be improved. We are excited to learn about the unique needs in each of the communities we serve. Please visit “We Know Head Start/Early Head Start” in this website to learn more about the diverse experience of our core staff. You can also learn more about the communities we’ve served by visiting “Our Programs” in this website. Reading our Success Stories may also give you insight into the positive impact we’ve made in our current/previous programs. 10. We want to apply to be the next grantee for this program. What do we need to do? An entity interested in applying to be the next grantee should watch for request for applications (RFAs) posted by the Federal Office of Head Start. RFAs are always listed on the ACF website and http://grants.gov. CDI HS does not play a role in the selection of a replacement grantee. We do not have information about this process and do not advise entities interested in applying. Please direct all ofyour questions to the Federal Office of Head Start, Operations Center at 1-866-796-1591. 11. What role does CDI HS play in the selection of a new, long term replacement grantee? None - CDI HS is impartial in the replacement grantee process. All efforts are coordinated out of the Federal Office of Head Start and do not involve CDI HS. Our interest in the community is isolated to providing uninterrupted interim program services. We do not provide recommendations or statements of qualification in any respect for potential or actual replacement grantees. Entities interested in learning more about the replacement grantee process, or about how to apply to be the replacement grantee should call the Federal Office of Head Start, Operations Center at 1-866-796-1591. 12. I have a concern about aspects of CDI HS operation/ management in a program. Who do I talk to?CDI HS has a parent/community complaint procedure that is approved by our Board of Directors and the local program’s Policy Council. Following this procedure will ensure you receive a timely response and that you are in communication with the appropriate individuals who can assist in addressing your concerns. CDI HS encourages all concerns to be addressed by local program staff in the most immediate manner possible – ideally with whom ever is directly involved. If support in obtaining a satisfactory resolution is needed, the above mentioned procedure helps guide this process. If you are unable to find resolution with local program staff and are uncertain of who to speak with next, you may contact us at info@cdiheadstart.org and we can help you get in contact with the appropriate person.
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CDI
HS continues to serve as the interim manager of a program until the
replacement grantee has been selected and is ready to assume responsibility
for the program. CDI HS is typically in a community for approximately
a year. As regulated by contract, our time as interim manager is limited
and we cannot apply to be the replacement grantee.|
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