Best Starts is partnering with School’s Out Washington (SOWA) to ensure that high-quality afterschool and summer programs are available so that all King County children and young people have the learning opportunities they deserve to thrive. SOWA is now accepting proposals from out of school time programs to provide services to children and youth afterschool and during the summer. Find additional details and download the RFP on SOWA’s Best Starts for Kids partnership web page.
School’s Out Washington is administering this funding opportunity. Applications are due November 3, 2017 no later than 5:00 PM.
Eligibility
SOWA’s Best Starts for Kids web page provides background information and resources to support organizations in determining their eligibility and to understand the full application process. You will also find a detailed description of the two program models that will be funded through this investment:
- Place-Based Partnerships
- People of Color Led
Visit SOWA’s Best Starts for Kids webpage for more information on the application process and to view the RFP.
Commitment to Equity
Achieving racial equity and pursuing social justice are core to the vision of both School’s Out Washington and Best Starts for Kids. The extent and impact of disparities in access to high quality out-of-school-time programs requires a full and focused response that will reduce those disparities, increase opportunities for children and youth of color, and assure that all King County children and youth have equitable access. To amplify consideration of equity and social justice, SOWA has prioritized communities of color for out of school time funding, and designed a program model that will invest in community-based organizations led by people of color to improve the reach and scale of high quality out of school time programs serving children and youth of color, within communities of color. See the RFP for additional details on these program models.
Available funding
Through this investment, SOWA will be awarding a total of approximately $8 million over the next 3 years to support quality out of school time programming in King County. See the RFP for additional details on available funding.
Information Sessions
| Date/Time | Location |
| Rainier Beach 10/2/17, from 1:30-3:30 PM RSVP for Rainier Beach Session |
Rainer Beach Library Meeting Room 9125 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98118 |
| Bellevue 10/3/17, from 12:30-2:30 PM RSVP for Bellevue Session |
Lake Hills Library Meeting Room 15590 Lake Hills Boulevard, Bellevue, WA 98007 |
| Lake City 10/4/17, from 1:30 – 3:30 PM RSVP for Lake City Session |
Lake City Library Meeting Room 12501 28th Avenue Northeast, Seattle, WA 98125 |
| Kent 10/5/17, from 1:00 – 3:00 PM| RSVP for Kent Session |
Kent Library Meeting Room 212 2nd Avenue North, Kent, WA 98032 |
Timeline
The timeline details the tentative schedule of the entire process, from RFP release to project implementation. Dates listed here are subject to change.
| RFP released | September 27, 2017 |
| Information sessions | October 2-5, 2017 |
| Final day to ask questions | October 27, 2017 |
| RFP responses due | November 3, 2017 no later than 5:00 PM |
| Interviews with applicants (if necessary) | November, 2017 |
| Responses reviewed and rated | November, 2017 |
| Notice to selected and non-selected organizations | December, 2017 |
| List of selected organizations published. | December, 2017 |
| Project implementation begins |
January, 2018 |
Have more questions?
Contact Omana Imani at School’s Out Washington: OImani@schoolsoutwashington.org
Technical Assistance
Technical assistance is available to organizations needing support in applying. If you have never applied for government funding before, are new to responding to a Requests for Proposal, or are needing support with your application, contractors will be available through King County for assistance at no cost to the applicant. Details on technical assistance will be posted to SOWA’s Best Starts for Kids web page.
Where can I find data?
Best Starts and SOWA value the use of multiple sources of data and information. The Landscape Analysis may be a helpful resource. Applicants may also choose to use this mapping tool to determine current programming available in King County, and to prioritize high-need areas. Other sources include the Best Starts indicators website and the Communities Count website as well as these maps, providing data by Regions and Health Reporting Areas across King County.
The Best Starts for Kids data and evaluation team hosted the following webinar to share resources, answer questions, and provide helpful tips to help you use data to tell your story.
Responding to Best Starts Funding Opportunities: Tips and Tricks for Using Data to Tell Your Story