HHS Awards Over $225 Million to Improve Head Start Nutrition, Facilities and Services

WASHINGTON, D.C — SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), today announced over $225 million in Head Start supplemental awards to strengthen nutrition services, improve facilities, and help programs address critical one-time needs to better serve children and families across the nation.

To deliver on President Trump’s directive to Make America Healthy Again, the awards include $89 million in supplemental nutrition funding for more than 400 Head Start grant recipients. This action builds on HHS’ 2025 investment of $62 million in supplemental nutrition funding to over 290 Head Start programs around the nation.

“Good health begins with good nutrition, and the earliest years of a child’s life shape health for decades to come,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We are strengthening Head Start nutrition and creating healthier, safer environments that give children a stronger foundation for lifelong health. By putting prevention first, we are advancing President Trump’s commitment to Make America Healthy Again.”

Over $89 Million to Strengthen Nutrition and Healthy Eating

The $89 million in supplemental nutrition awards to more than 400 Head Start grant recipients builds on HHS’ 2025 investment, increasing it by approximately $27 million to reach more Head Start programs, children, and families nationwide.

The funding will help Head Start programs improve access to nutrient-dense foods, strengthen food preparation and storage capacity, support farm-to-table and gardening initiatives, provide nutrition education for children and families, and make other investments that promote healthy development.

“The Trump Administration is committed to making Head Start better and brighter by returning the program to its core mission: giving children a healthy foundation to thrive,” said ACF Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams. “The supplemental investments build on our broader efforts to strengthen Head Start by putting nutrition, healthy development, and program flexibility back at the center of how we serve children and families. When we invest in healthier children today, we are investing in stronger families and a better America for generations to come.”

The nutrition awards advance Secretary Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again priorities by emphasizing prevention, healthy development, and access to nutritious foods during the foundational years of childhood.

Over $88 Million to Improve Head Start Facilities

Additionally, HHS is awarding 28 recipients over $88 million in supplemental facilities funding to support improvements to Head Start facilities and learning environments. These investments will help grant recipients address facility needs that affect the health, safety, and quality of services provided to children and families.

Funding may support renovations, repairs, and modernization, helping programs maintain environments that are safe, effective, and responsive to the needs of young children.

“Children thrive in environments tailored to their health, safety, and development,” said Director of the Office of Head Start Lizbeth Casco White. “These supplemental investments empower local programs with the flexibility to enhance learning environments while reinforcing the critical nutrition and family services that build a strong, lifelong foundation for the future.”

Over $47 Million for Critical One-Time Needs

An additional award of over $47 million in one-time supplemental funding will help 180 Head Start grant recipients address operational needs, such as technology supports, buses and vehicles for transportation, installation of a new HVAC unit, the purchase of playground equipment, classroom furnishings, staff training or a building security system. These awards provide targeted resources for programs to respond to immediate priorities and make investments that strengthen their ability to deliver high-quality services.

Together, the approximately $225 million in awards reflect HHS and ACF’s commitment to ensuring Head Start programs have the resources needed to support healthy children, strong families, and high-quality early childhood environments.