Family Connectivity and Leadership

In December 2024, the First 5 San Mateo County Commission (F5SMC or the Commission) updated its Strategic Plan for 2025-2030, which guides the Commission’s priorities and investments. The 2025-2030 Strategic Plan is consistent with the focus and intent of the Children and Families Act, building on what has been learned and accomplished locally and providing a framework for the Commission and the community for how Proposition 10 funds will be strategically invested over the next five years. Central to the success of these investments is a strong foundation that adequately prioritizes early childhood systems and services in San Mateo County.  Proposers are strongly encouraged to review the F5SMC 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, which is available in the Attachments section of this RFP as Attachment C.As outlined in its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, the Commission is prioritizing partnerships with entities that are achieving both direct impact and positive systemic change. This approach fosters sustainable improvement within agencies and systems, and allows families beyond the direct service reach to benefit. Many of our investments serve present needs as well as examining and improving the underlying systems. Through this RFP (Family Connectivity & Leadership), F5SMC intends to solicit proposals from qualified agencies and organizations interested in implementing services and innovative strategies that will build family connections, leadership, and other protective factors to promote children’s healthy development, strengthen family resiliency, and advance systems change. Contract Term and BudgetThe contract term will be three (3) years, from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028. There will be one (1) opportunity to extend the contract for up to two (2) years.The total budget amount over the three year term is $225,000.  Desired OutcomesSuccessful proposals in response to this RFP will demonstrate how their proposed activities and approach will help F5SMC achieve the relevant Desired Outcomes in our 2025-30 Strategic Plan, specifically:Families feel connected to and supported by their community and able to nurture their children's health and development. Families have agency and voice to direct policies and systems that impact their children. In service of these larger strategic outcomes, F5SMC anticipates that funding this work will positively impact population and participant level indicators such as:The percentage of parents who report feeling connected to a support network. The percentage of parents reporting confidence in their ability to nurture their children and support their development. The percentage of parents who report feeling confident in their ability to advocate for their child. The percentage of parents reporting increased confidence and capacity to engage in leadership roles and influence systemic change. Successful proposers will be required to participate in F5SMC Evaluation Activities, including (but not limited to) administering surveys to program participants as directed by F5SMC staff and evaluation consultants. Surveys will include items assessing the indicators listed above, as well as items associated with other indicators specified in our 2025-30 Strategic Plan. Strategies & Domains This RFP is intended to identify and fund agencies and partnerships that will: 1) Develop parent-to-parent networks of support, in order to promote resilient families, healthy children, and foster systems change; and 2) Build capacity for parents to advocate for themselves and their children and gain leadership skills. Areas of Interest Proposers should demonstrate their ability to design and implement specific approaches and services in one or more of the following areas:Parent CafésParent-led community building activities other than Parent CafésParent advocacy training and supportCross-organizational sharing of effective ways to integrate parent voice into program development, service delivery, evaluation, and other agency activities Target Populations F5SMC is prioritizing proposals and approaches that focus on serving the following target populations: Expectant parents and families of children ages 0-5 who may experience social isolationExpectant parents and families of children ages 0-5 who participate in systems/services where they may benefit from support for self-advocacy and/or advocacy for their childrenExpectant parents and families of children ages 0-5 whose position within our society (e.g. socioeconomic class, educational level, mental health diagnosis, immigration history, home language, race/ethnicity, history of trauma) may be associated increased barriers to civic participation as well as with reduced comfort with or knowledge about how to effectively advocate for themselves and their children.