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WRITING AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SAMPLE
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Priority ONE – Solano County Family Childcare Initiative
Solano County Family Childcare Network/Solano County Office of Education
1. Agency Philosophy and Introduction
The Preschool for All (PFA) campaign ignited the hopes and expectations of many people that a dedicated funding source would make it possible for all children to enter kindergarten physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, and creatively prepared to succeed. Unfortunately, Solano County voters turned down this scenario. Since then other efforts have targeted selected aspects of the same vision. The current proposal seeks to do so too by establishing a network of family childcare providers that are driven by the complimentary passions of sustaining quality home-centered care and integrating educational standards that favor life-long learning and achievement. Our Priority ONE Initiative (named after the first level of need from Solano County’s Certified Eligibility List, though we will serve first and second priority children and families) brings new opportunities by way of an unique partnership between the Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) and the Solano County Licensed Family Childcare Network (FCN).
Our Priority ONE funding request has two components. Core component one develops operational standards and expectations for family day care programs that provide services through the FCN, including educational standards of excellence. Both program and educational standards will be verified using a variety of recognized policies and measurement tools. The second core component is the establishment of 6 family care site (selected from a pool of 12 to date) that will offer 32 new slots for eligible infants, toddlers and others three years of age and older. These six sites will also be able to offer care to about 20 non-eligible children and families. Eligible families will be selected from the Solano’s Certified Eligibility List (SCEL), factoring in economic need and accommodations for exceptional, English proficiency, CPS/At-Risk or disability conditions.
Our Priority ONE conceptualization offers many benefits. It’s fully compliant with Solano County’s Preschool for All quality service model. The FCN empowers participating home-focused sites in ways typically associated with center-based programs, giving them a voice in developing and maintaining best practices for other home-based programs. This includes linking qualified programs with resources that support facility, program, educational and staff stability. Our Priority ONE standards will be adequate to ensure that all participating sites retain Title V and community care licensing compliance without losing the integrity of their nurturing approach. In addition, because many home-centered programs believe that the passion of their convictions naturally supports ongoing educational advancement (family programs allow children to remain in one setting across grade levels), Priority ONE is a unique way to reinforce educational success.
The scope of the original Preschool for All commitment was impressive. The local stakeholders were motivated by the uniqueness and diversity of our neighborhoods and economic future. They were also committed, as representatives of public, private, business, governmental and school resources, to noting just how strong the connection is between quality care and behavioral and academic achievement. The science confidently indicates that children provided the kind of nurturing offered in home-based programs may develop a foundation for learning capable of advancing children through school to graduation and even college. The Preschool for All implementation report tied success to having a balance of early educational opportunities, including more home-based program. It even suggested that a key need for Solano was the development of a network of family care programs supported by the educational establishment, including CDE and SCOE. Our Priority ONE Initiative is the first step in that commitment. Once the Family Childcare Network and its standards are built, additional slots will be created each year.
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