§ 42-12-26. Expansion and enhancement of early education and care for low-income children.
(a) The general assembly shall annually appropriate such funds as it deems necessary to enable the department of human services to establish a program whose express purposes are:
(i) To increase the numbers of eligible children in existing Head Start program, especially in underserved areas; and
(ii) To increase resources to child care providers for the enhancement of services to low income children. Enhancement of services shall include social services, health, mental health, nutrition service, parent involvement and transition services for children entering kindergarten.
(b) The director of the department of human services is further authorized to request such appropriation for each state fiscal year as he or she deems necessary to carry out the programs and purposes of this section.
(c) A panel comprised of the members of the children’s cabinet and five (5) members of the public, to be chosen by the chairperson of the children’s cabinet, shall be responsible for determining how the funds prescribed in this section shall be allocated; and shall by May 1, 1999 establish the methodology of enhancing comprehensive services in child care programs serving low income children and establish the numbers of additional Head Start slots in underserved areas to be funded; provided, however, that priority shall be given in the allocation of funds to applicants who serve children in underserved communities; who integrate children with special needs; who collaborate with existing early education and care programs and other existing services including child opportunity zone family centers, schools and agencies providing health, mental health, nutrition and social services; and who address the child care needs of the families to be served.
History of Section.P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 11, § 6.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 42 - State Affairs and Government
Chapter 42-12 - Department of Human Services
Section 42-12-1. - Department of human services.
Section 42-12-1.1. - Transfer of functions from the department of education.
Section 42-12-1.2. - Transfer of functions from the former department of social welfare.
Section 42-12-1.3. - Transfer of functions from the department of elderly affairs.
Section 42-12-1.4. - Repealed.
Section 42-12-1.5. - Transfer of functions from the office of energy resources.
Section 42-12-2. - Management of institutions.
Section 42-12-3. - Parole and probation.
Section 42-12-4. - Welfare supervision.
Section 42-12-5. - Assistance on veterans’ claims.
Section 42-12-6. - Unemployment relief.
Section 42-12-7. - Special veterans’ funds.
Section 42-12-8. - Vocational rehabilitation services provided by department.
Section 42-12-8.1. - Repealed.
Section 42-12-9. - Rehabilitation of disabled persons.
Section 42-12-10. - Rehabilitation of disadvantaged persons.
Section 42-12-11. - Cooperation in administration of federal statutes.
Section 42-12-12. - Appropriations and disbursements.
Section 42-12-13. - Acceptance and use of gifts.
Section 42-12-14. - Persons requiring permanent care or not susceptible to rehabilitation.
Section 42-12-15. - Acceptance of federal vocational rehabilitation act — Custody of funds.
Section 42-12-16. - Acceptance of amendments to federal act — Custody of funds.
Section 42-12-17. - Agreements as to disability determinations — Funds.
Section 42-12-18. - Transfer of powers and functions from department of human services.
Section 42-12-20. - Responsibility of director — Traumatic brain injury.
Section 42-12-21. - “Traumatic brain injury” defined.
Section 42-12-22. - Confidentiality of personal information — Authorized uses.
Section 42-12-23. - Child care — Planning and coordinating.
Section 42-12-24. - Development, innovation and start-up of early education and care programs.
Section 42-12-25. - Child care training, accreditation, technical assistance, and monitoring.
Section 42-12-26. - Expansion and enhancement of early education and care for low-income children.
Section 42-12-28. - Child support enforcement functions.
Section 42-12-29. - Children’s health account.
Section 42-12-30. - Expenditures under the traumatic brain injury program.