Got SNAP? Apply for CAP!

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can now be viewed as “public assistance” when determining Head Start eligibility. This policy change is effective immediately and minimizes the burden on families seeking public assistance. Families that are eligible for one program, like SNAP, can now more easily participate in other services for which they qualify, like Head Start.

Families that currently receive SNAP and want to apply for CAP Tulsa’s early childhood education programs, including school-based and Learning@Home, are already income-eligible. Prior to this policy change, families had to document their income eligibility for both SNAP and Head Start, which created an administrative burden and increased communications for us and for the family. This change will significantly reduce these burdens and should make it easier for SNAP-qualified families to complete our application process.

It is important to keep in mind that there are many factors, in addition to income eligibility, that are considered before a child can be accepted and placed, like child age, location, and slot capacity. While this policy change does not guarantee an immediate placement, it will greatly reduce the effort required by the family and our Admissions team to confirm they are income eligible.

We applaud the work of the National Head Start Association (NHSA), members of Congress who advocated for the addition, and the Office of Head Start for championing this change that provides more equitable access to Head Start services.