Funding Opportunity
SMART START MULTI-YEAR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
FY 2024-2027
The Cleveland County Partnership for Children, Inc., the local non-Profit agency that administers early childhood initiatives in Cleveland County, is accepting sealed proposals for the following strategies which will address specific needs of children aged birth to five in Cleveland County; funding to implement approved programs is being provided by the Smart Start initiative of North Carolina.
3104
the continuation of collaboration in services to link consumers, child care providers, and the community in an effort to increase the star rating of child placements in regulated programs. The proposal must include on-site technical assistance to help child care facilities attain a higher star rating or points, maintain a current star rating, or to improve upon a certain area of quality. The proposal must include collaboration in the provision of child care resource and referral services for parents of children birth to five, and the provision of training and technical assistance to new and existing child care providers in an effort to increase their job knowledge, skills, and star rating as defined by the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education. The proposal must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to achieve positive results and should include the provision of services for multiple year support.
3125
the continuation of support services to child care providers specifically designed to assist them in sustaining their star rating as defined by the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education. The proposal must include on-site technical assistance to help child care facilities attain a higher star rating or points, maintain a current star rating, or to improve upon a certain area of quality. The proposal must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to achieve positive results and should include the provision of services for multiple year support.
3107
the continuation of education-based salary supplements to promote employment longevity to child care teachers, directors, and family child care home providers. The proposal submitted must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to reduce the average teacher turnover rate in Cleveland County among highly skilled providers/teachers.
5526
the continuation of support services to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library specifically designed to manage the enrollment process as well as to increase the number of children enrolled in the program. The proposal must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to achieve positive results and should include the provision of services for multiple year support.
3322
the continuation of NC Pre-K coordination services to identify and provide services to eligible four year old children through the public school system as well as four- and/or five-star licensed child care providers. The proposal must include on-site technical assistance to help child care facilities attain a higher star rating or points, maintain a current star rating, or to improve upon a certain area of quality. The proposal submitted must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to meet all requirements of a local county subcontracting agency as defined by the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education.
2340
the continuation of subsidized child care payments for children birth to five whose families work and/or are enrolled in school full time and meet income eligibility requirements. The proposal submitted must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to increase subsidized child placements in centers/homes with a four or higher star rating, achieve positive outcomes, and should include the provision of services for multiple year support.
2341
the continuation of subsidized child care payments for enrolled EHS-CCP children birth to three whose families work and/or are enrolled in school full time and meet income eligibility requirements. The proposal submitted must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to increase subsidized child placements in centers/homes with a four or higher star rating, achieve positive outcomes, and should include the provision of services for multiple year support.
2342
the continuation of evidence-based preschool services which will identify and provide early care and educational services to children aging out of the Early Head Start program who qualify for Head Start services yet do not have a transition of care plan through another funding source. The proposal submitted must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to increase the number of three year old slots in child development centers with a 4 star or higher rating, achieve positive outcomes, and should include the provision of services for multiple year support.
2343
the implementation of services to identify and provide early intervention services to children birth to five with or at risk for special needs. The proposal must include on-site technical assistance to help child care facilities serve identified children using best practices. The proposal submitted must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to increase the identification and provision of services received to the total birth to five year old population in start-up, licensed and/or G.S. 110 child care facilities serving children birth to five years old, achieve positive outcomes, and should include the provision of services for multiple year support.
2344
the implementation of subsidized child care payments for children birth to 11 months whose families work and/or are enrolled in school full time and meet income eligibility requirements. The proposal submitted must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to increase subsidized child placements in centers/homes with a four or higher star rating, achieve positive outcomes, and should include the provision of services for multiple year support.
2360
the continuation of subsidy services support conducted by a state level Local Purchasing Agency to perform family outreach and application, eligibility determination, payment processing, recertification, and all other management functions required for the administration of the subsidized child care payment system in Cleveland County.
3123
the implementation of support services to child care providers of children birth to five specifically designed to assist them in providing benefits packages including medical/dental/mental health insurance for child care staff. The proposal must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to achieve positive results and should include the provision of services for multiple year support.
5501
the implementation of parent-child play and learn sessions held in various communities of Cleveland County for children birth to five and their parents/guardians. The proposal submitted must include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s capability to encourage language development, intellectual growth and social and motor skill development in young children. The proposal must also include the provision of training additional community leaders to implement additional play and learn sessions in their communities, achievement of positive outcomes, and should include the provision of services for multiple year support.
All agencies/organizations interested in submitting proposals for possible Smart Start funding must have representation at a BIDDERS’ CONFERENCE via Zoom Meeting. The Bidders’ Conference will be held Thursday, May 2, 2024 at noon. Email johanna.gillespie@ccpartnershipforchildren.com by 9am on the day of the Bidders’ Conference to RSVP and receive the Zoom Bidders’ Conference Meeting Link. Successful offerors must meet bidder qualifications and demonstrate potential success in assisting the Partnership for Children in meeting program standards of the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. Procurement packets containing these standards, proposal format, and other grant requirements will be distributed to Bidders’ Conference participants only. Completed proposals must be received (not post-marked) on or before noon, Thursday, May 16, 2024. Completed proposals in electronic format will be accepted at the Cleveland County Partnership for Children administrative office (1205 Northside Drive, Shelby, NC 28150) or via email to Johanna Gillespie, Programs Manager, Cleveland County Partnership for Children at johanna.gillespie@ccpartnershipforchildren.com. Additional information may be obtained via the same contact information.
The Cleveland County Partnership for Children reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals or to waive any informality in proposal.