If you are reasonably certain that a program is in violation of federal requirements or is misusing federal funds, submit a complaint against the program using the Complaints Submission Form.

You may also report suspected or confirmed fraud or waste in a Head Start program directly to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General.

Examples of federal issues and complaints include:

• Mistreatment of children, parents, or guardians
• Poor quality of care and/or education of children in the program
• Unsafe conditions
• Suspected misuse of funds

If you have concerns about personnel or human resource practices within a Head Start program, first address those concerns with the management staff of the program. The next step, if not resolved, would include addressing the issue with the Governing Body of the grantee agency.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) provides information on labor laws and guidance on compliance assistance to protect the wages, health benefits, retirement security, employment rights, safety, and health of America’s workforce, including migrant farmworkers.

The DOL provides contact information for each state's local Labor Office through their Wage and Hour Division.