Quality Supports and Services in Early Learning Settings Request for Application (RFA)

In December 2024, the Commission updated its Strategic Plan for 2025-2030, which will guide 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.As outlined in its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, First 5 San Mateo County 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. F5SMC welcomes proposals from all qualified entities to implement activities outlined in this RFA.  Qualified applicants may include LEA, community- based (501)(c)(3) organizations, coalitions or collaboratives, government agencies or consultancies. The Commission is interested in applicants who exhibit expertise in providing quality supports and early childhood mental health consultation and services in early learning settings to children prenatally through age five, their families and providers, as well as applicants that serve culturally diverse communities.  F5SMC desires/prefers one of the following two options:One Lead Agency Applicant an established LEA, with sub/contractor partners to implement all activities in this RFA orTwo Lead Applicants implement activities in this RFA one for Quality Supports and the second for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and Pilot Services.F5SMC may, in its sole discretion, enter into contracts with one or multiple qualified providers.Desired OutcomesSuccessful proposals in response to this RFA will demonstrate that their proposed activities and approach will help F5SMC to achieve the relevant desired outcomes in the strategic plan, specifically:Communities provide a safe and healthy environment for young children.Children have timely and affordable access to high-quality early care and education settings.Families feel connected to and supported by their community and able to nurture their children’s health and development.Children have access to and are utilizing appropriate health care services to meet their health and developmental needs.In service of these larger strategic outcomes, F5SMC anticipates that funding this work will positively impact population, system, and participant level indicators such as:  The percentage of all early learning programs participating in Quality Improvement activities. The percentage of third-grade students reading at or above grade level. The percentage of children entering kindergarten ready to thrive.The number of children ages 3-5 who are enrolled in programs participating in Quality Counts. The percentage of home-based and alternative setting early learning programs that are participating in Quality Counts. Of children who attend early learning programs that are participating in Quality Counts, the percentage of those that are dual language learners and children of color, and special needs.The percentage of parents reporting difficulty accessing services for their child’s mental, developmental, and/or behavioral health. The percentage of parents reporting confidence in their ability to nurture their children and support their development. Number and/or percentage of publicly-funded child care settings receiving Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation services.Number of providers trained in early childhood mental health modalities and/or foundational practices.Service StrategiesThrough this Quality Support and Services in Early Learning Settings RFA, the Commission intends to fund a blend of direct services and system-level strategies for children ages 0–5 in San Mateo County to implement services focused on: Supporting quality improvement in early learning environments: Providing early childhood mental health consultation in early learning settings; Piloting embedded early mental health services in early learning settings and Co-administering the F5CA IMPACT & IMPACT Regional Hub and Quality Counts. The selected applicant(s) will collaborate with F5SMC and partners to enhance early learning quality, policy, and resources to the sector.Target PopulationsEarly learning programs and providers serving infants, toddlers and children through age 5Family Child Care providersAlternative Early Learning settingsEarly learning programs and providers serving infants, toddlers, and children through age 5 in Sequoia Health Care District AreaOther target populations: provide rationaleFunding Amount and Available TermF5SMC has allocated a maximum of $2,259,604.00 over 3 fiscal years (2025-26, 2026-27, 2027-28) to meet the goals and objectives detailed in this RFA term anticipated July 1, 2025-through June 30, 2028, for one funding stream. Refer to the Quality Supports and Early Mental Health in Early Learning Budget Chart for term and budget (Attachment I). (The budget allocation for Quality Supports is $1,761,604.00 and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation & Pilot Early Mental Health Embedded Services is $498,000 comprising local Prop 10 investments and leveraged funding from MHSA, F5CA and Sequoia Healthcare District).