New opportunities to support inclusion and continuing to strengthen connections in East County
New Recommendations & Funding Opportunities to Support Inclusion in Early Childhood Education Programs
First 5 Contra Costa is pleased to announce recommendations and funding opportunities to support inclusion in child care programs in our county. The report summarizes the findings of the community engagement process we led that gathered input on ways to improve early childhood programs’ ability to effectively include children with disabilities (diagnosed or undiagnosed), developmental delays, and social-emotional concerns, and their families. Between March and July 2024, First 5 Contra Costa and its consultant partner Cardea conducted interviews, focus groups, and meaning-making sessions to understand ways to support inclusive spaces for children with disabilities. In August, we held two community convenings to share findings, unveil emerging recommendations, and gather community perspectives and priorities. The report outlines a summary of themes from the community input in and recommendations for making early learning programs in our county more inclusive of all children.
As a result of the community engagement effort, First 5 Contra Costa is addressing some of the most pressing needs identified in the community engagement process by releasing multiple funding opportunities. The first of those funding opportunities were released yesterday and include:
Seeking multiple organizations and/or consultants for up to $25,000 for a 6-month contract to conduct community-based outreach efforts intended to increase awareness of early intervention and special education services and resources amongst parents of children under age of 6 and licensed early care and education providers. RFP Informational Webinar on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Click here to register
Seeking a qualified organization(s) or consultant to provide early childhood mental health consultation services focused on improving the capacities of early childhood education providers to address the social and emotional needs of children ages 0-5. Process will result in an 18-month contract for a not-to-exceed amount of up to $375,000, with an anticipated start date on or after 1/14/25. RFP Informational Webinar on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Click here to register.
Deadline for submissions is December 2, 2024, at 5:00 PM. PT. To learn more about these opportunities, and upcoming information webinars, visit our Funding Opportunities page.
Please share with your networks and others who may be interested.
In the coming months, First 5 Contra Costa intends to release additional funding opportunities related to inclusion to address the most pressing needs identified in the community engagement process. However, the current amount of county Measure X (the county’s new sales tax) funds dedicated to this effort is not enough to address all of the recommendations. First 5 Contra Costa has requested that the County Board of Supervisors consider dedicating $750,000 more per year to address several of the recommendations. We hope the Board will consider the request at their November 12, 2024 public meeting.
Click here for more information on Supporting Inclusive Early Care & Education Environments
Womb to Classroom: Continuing our Ready Kids East County Effort
We are excited to share that First 5 Contra Costa has received funding from the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation to continue supporting and advancing the Ready Kids East County effort over the next five years.
The Ready Kids East County effort, a strategic partnership between First 5 Contra Costa and the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation, launched in 2019 and ushered in creative programming, resources, and services specifically targeting Black families in East County, with a special focus on Pittsburg, to help address inequities that contribute to school readiness disparities. In this next phase of the work, we plan to move further upstream to build stronger bridges and connections for Black and African American families to existing organizations and agencies to support the wellbeing for Black birthing people and early parental attachment, early literacy and early learning settings for Black children, and basic needs coordination and support for Black families.
We are honored and proud to be in this partnership and in this journey along with the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation and other community-based organizations committed to improving the wellbeing and school readiness of Black and African American young children and their families in East Contra Costa.
Click here to learn more about the Ready Kids East County effort.
Help shape the future of African American wellness in Contra Costa
The Office of Racial Equity & Social Justice invite Black and African American residents of Contra Costa County to participate in an important survey to shape the future of wellness services in our community.
Your feedback from this 15-20 minute confidential survey will directly influence the design, services, and locations of a new African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub—a center dedicated to providing culturally relevant and responsive services that meet the unique needs of our community.
Take the survey today to ensure the future African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub reflects your needs.
Click here to take the survey
First 5 Centers’ impact and work highlighted in multiple tours
For over two decades, our First 5 Centers have supported families with children ages 0-5 through multi-week classes, playgroups, school-readiness activities, support groups, one-on-one assistance connecting to community services, and provided resources such as food and diapers—all for free for any family interested.
We recently had the opportunity to highlight our work and the impact our First 5 Centers have in our community. Last month, community leaders, staff from elected officials’ offices, and private funders participated in a tour of our First 5 Centers in Concord, Pittsburg and Antioch. They had the opportunity to meet staff from the nonprofit contractors who operate the centers and see firsthand the programs and services offered through the First 5 Center model. In September, five staff from First 5 Butte came down to tour the First 5 Centers in San Pablo and Pittsburg. First 5 Butte recently launched their own family resource center effort in their county, taking a tiered approach with existing local service providers to support them to “skill up” in their family strengthening and 0-5 knowledge and abilities.
Deep appreciation was shared by attendees of both tours and First 5 Contra Costa is honored to share our 20+ years of experience honing our First 5 Center model.
Connect with your local First 5 Center
Innovative wage enhancement program for early educators to start in early 2025
Thanks to ongoing efforts to support the local early care and education workforce, stakeholder engagement, and a planning process led by First 5 Contra Costa, the proposed Contra Costa wage enhancement program for early educators will be implemented in the New Year.
CocoKids will be implementing the Contra Costa wage enhancement program for early care and education providers, called the Child Care Boost Initiative, using county Measure X sales tax funding allocated by the Board of Supervisors. The initial pilot program will provide approximately $1,000 per month for 18 months to 120 child care professionals in direct care roles in Contra Costa County. The program aims to retain child care professionals who work in child care deserts, or areas of our county where families have too few options for child care. By supporting child care professionals, this program will also be providing stability for the hundreds of families who depend on those child care programs to go to work.
First 5 Contra Costa will be leading an evaluation of the pilot of the program. We are currently seeking an evaluation partner. To learn more, please visit Evaluation of a Wage Enhancement Pilot for Early Educators (RFQ).
To learn more about how the program was developed with child care provider input and based on research, visit our Early Learning Workforce web page.
Want to stay-in-the-know about this wage boost program? Subscribe to our mailing list to keep up with the latest information and updates about the wage enhancement program.
New program to enhance the inclusion of children of all abilities in Early Care and Education settings
To advance developmental screening across our county’s early care and education (ECE) providers, and to enhance the inclusion of children of all abilities, First 5 Contra Costa is beginning a new program to assist ECE programs in the implementation of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire™, a widely used developmental screening tool.
Through this no-cost program, ECE programs will receive up to four technical assistance visits with an ECE inclusion coach between November 2024 and March 2025. Sites will receive personalized support to implement developmental screening best practices in their early learning program, in order to support positive child development, family engagement, and more inclusive classroom environments.
Click here to learn more and apply
In addition, participating ECE settings will be offered a one-time shopping pass worth $600 to purchase supplies for their classrooms—while supplies last, see flyer here for details. Both center-based and licensed home-based (FCCH) settings are eligible to apply. Please note: ECE programs in the Quality Matters or QIS program are not eligible.