Providing Relief After Natural Disasters

The Disaster Relief Fund provides quick, targeted assistance to member programs, staff, and families affected by natural disasters—helping communities recover and rebuild when they need it most.

• Program Award – Up to $5,000 per program.
• Individual Award – Up to $500 per employee/parent.

We define a natural disaster as the following: a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth; examples include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes. A natural disaster can cause loss of life or property damage. Learn about other ways we work to promote resilience in these situations.

Requirements & Guidelines

A Head Start program seeking NHSA disaster relief funds must be a current program member of the NHSA. Applications must be submitted by the director of the Head Start/Early Head Start program seeking assistance for itself, staff, or parents they serve. The director must be responsible for ensuring the following:

• Accountability for funds.
• Disbursing funds as easily and quickly as possible.
• Funds are not used to duplicate other assistance programs.
• Funds requested should be in proportion to the need.
• Creating easy, short forms for fund recipients to certify and sign.
• Keeping proper records.
• Providing a final report to NHSA 60 days after expending funds.

Total program request, including assistance to program and staff/parents, is not to exceed $5,000. A request for assistance should not already be covered by other assistance such as FEMA, building, automobile, or medical insurance, etc. Examples of acceptable need include (but are not limited to):

• Reimbursement for car or building insurance deductibles
• Expenses incurred by Head Start Parents or Staff displaced from their homes due to disaster damage
• Vehicle repair for damage caused by disaster not covered by insurance
• Medical costs as a result of disaster not covered by insuranceProgram Application

Below are two applications: one for programs and one for individuals (staff and parents.)

Program Application

Individual Application (Staff/Parents)