The request for proposals to fund Parent/Caregiver Education and Support services is now open and available HERE.
Best Starts for Kids is investing in Community-Based Parenting and Peer Supports as one means of enhancing strengths and services within King County communities and improving child and family outcomes. This funding strategy is part of our Invest Early prenatal to 5 years old work.
This RFP for Parent/Caregiver Education and Support, is one of five Community-Based Parenting and Peer Supports RFPs that Best Starts is releasing to partner with community-based organizations to promote positive and healthy outcomes for young children and to support parents and family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) caregivers. Previous RFPs include:
- Basic Needs Resource Brokering (closed and awards made).
- Kaleidoscope Play and Learn (closed).
Upcoming RFPs within this strategy include:
- Prenatal Support Services and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Support (later in May)
- Information for Caregivers (June).
Click HERE to the links for the open RFP and other attachments.
What are Parent/Caregiver Education and Support Services?
Community-based Parenting Services are a way of delivering community centered, relationship-based support through information and services provided to parents of children birth to age 5. Across King County, families have different needs and are connected within communities in a variety of ways. Providing families with key messages regarding health, safety, brain development and social/emotional well-being increases the likelihood that all children and families with young children have the very best start. In addition to focusing on the health and well-being of very young children, we must also focus on the health and well-being of their parents, families and extended caregivers.
The health and well-being of parents and caregivers in the early stages of their children’s lives are critical factors contributing to healthy child development, healthy families and healthy communities. Best Starts for Kids provides the opportunity for strengthening community supports for new parents and for addressing critical issues that can greatly improve the likelihood of a healthy start for young children. This includes:
- Early parent support
- Resource connections
- Parenting education and support groups
This RFP is intended to expand available programs and offerings of parenting/caregiver education and support services. Best Starts is seeking to invest in community-based parent/caregiver education and support services to meet the needs of unserved and underserved communities and individuals in King County. Parent/caregiver education services supported by this grant may include direct instruction, discussion groups, videos, modeling, or other formats. Through this RFP, Best Starts will support zero to age five parenting education focused programs offered in a variety of community settings. Proposed programs should be valued by the community as well as culturally and linguistically relevant.
Commitment to equity
Equity is a foundational principle for all programs funded by Best Starts for Kids. Funded organizations must embed equity in program policy and practice.
This RFP is focused on programs that are rooted in community needs, resources, and knowledge. Organizations should design programs and services from an equity standpoint considering factors such as:
- Hiring staff who are representative of and connected to the community where the services will be offered.
- Developing or selecting curricula and activities that are rooted in community or cultural values and practices.
- Providing formalized mechanisms for soliciting and using community input in the design and improvement of services
- Designing programs or activities that focus on building social support networks with community members or other caregivers.
In addition to an equity focus, all programs should meet at least three of the following foundational principles:
- Reduce sources of stress in the lives of children and families.
- Support responsive relationships between children and caregivers.
- Promote protective factors:
- Parental resilience
- Social connections
- Concrete support in times of need
- Knowledge of parenting and child development
- Social and emotional competence of children
- Strengthen core life skills.
- Promote perinatal and early childhood health. Program elements should include:
- A focus on the social-emotional needs of young children
- Postpartum support strategies
- Perinatal and infant health resource connections
Eligibility
This announcement is open to not-for-profit organizations, community-based organizations, tribes and tribal organizations, schools and school districts, and public or governmental agencies serving communities in King County. Small non-profits and community-based organizations are encouraged to submit proposals.
Programs that are eligible to apply are:
- New or Already-Implementing Programs: Organizations can apply for funds to:
- Develop a new program
- Make an adaption, significant improvement to, or further develop, an already-operating program
- Partnerships: Partnerships are eligible to apply. One organization must be designated as the lead and contract administrator.
Available funding
Best Starts is investing $1,400,000 in Community-Based Parent/Caregiver Education and Support services through this RFP.
Phase one: Program Development and Implementation Planning
There is $400,000 available for phase one. Each funded program will receive a six-month contract for $50,000 to participate in technical assistance and finalize each of the required program development products. We anticipate funding up to eight organizations/programs through this phase. Once all products have been completed, the organization is eligible for phase two.
Phase two: Program Implementation
There is $1,000,000 available for phase two. In the first year of phase two, organizations will receive up to a $150,000 award. This includes $25,000 for start-up costs. In the second year, programs will receive up to $125,000 depending on program design to operate the program. Contingent upon performance and fund availability, programs may be eligible for additional years of funding.
NOTE: We intend to fund programs through the complete program development and implementation process. All programs that receive awards for phase one will receive the full award amount for phase two as long as all required phase one products are completed.
Timeline
| RFP Issued | May 2, 2018 |
| Webinar Information Session
To join the presentation, click here. Audio via phone at 206-263-8114, conference ID: 934462 |
May 9, 2018
9:30-10:30am |
| In-Person Information Session #1 | Issaquah King County Library Tuesday May 8, 2018
1:00-2:00pm 10 West Sunset Way Issaquah WA 98027 |
| In-Person Information Session #2 | White Center King County Public Library Thursday, May 10, 2018
3:00-4:00pm 1409 SW 107th Street Seattle WA 98146 |
| Final Day to Ask Questions | June 1, 2018 |
| RFP Addenda Issued (if necessary) | June 4, 2018 |
| RFP Responses Due | June 14, 2018 NO LATER THAN 2pm |
| Responses Reviewed and Rated | Tentative: July 11, 2018 |
| Notice of Selected and Non-Selected | Tentative: July 31, 2018 |
| Selected Proposals List Published | Tentative: August 6, 2018 |
| Contract Term | September 1, 2018-December 31, 2020 |
Have more questions? Join us for information sessions
- May 8, 2018, from 1-2pm, Issaquah King County Library, 10 West Sunset Way Issaquah WA 98027
- May 9, 2018, from 930-1030am, Online Webinar. This is an online conference only. To join the presentation, click here. Audio via phone at 206-263-8114, conference ID: 934462
- May 10, 2018, from 3-4pm, White Center King County Public Library, 1409 SW 107th Street Seattle WA 98146
Need help? Get free assistance applying
Help preparing your application is available at no cost to support Best Starts for Kids applicants. Providers offer a wide range of skills, areas of expertise, and language abilities.
See the list of providers and contact information for technical assistance here.
Where can I find data to support my application?
Best Starts values the use of multiple sources of data and information. While the use of data resources is not required, we have compiled some King County data resources to assure equal access to information. Indicators identified for Best Starts can be found here: www.kingcounty.gov/bskindicators. Please visit the “Data Resources” page on the Communities Count website.