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In Your Region
The Foundation supports and enhances the work of early learning providers, parents and primary caregivers across Washington State. View our current grants or click on your region within the map below to see how we are advancing critical early learning programs in your area.
Current Grants
Statewide
Collaborative Leadership Institute
Award Amount: $6,000
Grant Period: 1/1/2008 - 11/30/2008
Lead Agency: WA State Head Start Assoc. & ECEAP
Communities: Statewide
Grant Type: Systems Building
Project Summary:
The Collaborative Leadership Institute was established in 2005, as a result of a need perceived by state agencies, early learning organizations and others. Initial funding included $15,000 from the Foundation in 2005. Participants attend three, three-day in-person meetings over a ten-month period.
History:
Collaborative Leadership Institute is a ten-month, high quality, leadership training program for a select group of new and emerging leaders in the Early Care & Learning and After School fields. The goal of the Institute is to develop a new network of cross-disciplinary leaders who are dedicated to early childhood education and equipped to envision and advance innovative approaches that promote public will, improve policy, and encourage thoughtful systemic change to benefit children and families.
The Foundation’s investment has leveraged $2.80 in additional funding for each $1 invested.
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54% of participants have already expanded their role in community affairs.
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60% indicate that they have advanced in their career since beginning.
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27% of participants plan to complete their next degree in higher education (5 Master’s level) in a variety of fields.
Getting School Ready! Booklet Distribution
Award Amount: $6,000
Grant Period: 6/1/2007 - 5/31/2009
Lead Agency: CHILD Profile
Communities: Statewide
Grant Type: Other
Project Summary:
The Foundation partnered with several agencies that support children and families in Washington, to help distribute 148,000 copies of the Getting School Ready! booklets to families with four-year olds. The booklets are mailed through the CHILD Profile system in the state.
The Foundation is proud to be part of the Getting School Ready! partnership that includes The Boeing Company, CHILD Profile – a program of the Washington State Department of Health, United Way of King County, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Puget Sound ESD, and the King County SOAR Initiative. All of these organizations played an integral role in making the project a success. This work builds on the existing partnership of the many parents, providers and other professionals who developed the original booklet.
To learn more about the Getting School Ready! booklets please click on the "Resources" link in the left column of the page.
Kids Matter
Award Amount: $10,000
Grant Period: 7/1/2006 - 6/30/2007
Lead Agency: Civil Society Institute
Communities: Statewide
Grant Type: Systems Building
Project History:
The State of Washington has created an outcome-based early childhood systems building framework. Three statewide system building efforts sponsored by four organizations combined to create one plan. This effort has been sponsored by the following lead organizations:
- Build
- Foundation for Early Learning
- Head Start-State Collaboration Office
- Washington State Department of Health
Public
and private partners in early childhood across the state have helped to
develop and support the use of the common framework.
To learn more about the Kids Matter framework please click on the "Resources" link in the left column of the page.
Parents as Teachers
Award Amount: $75,000
Grant Period: 7/1/2006 – 6/30/2009
Lead Agency: Parent Trust
Communities: Statewide
Grant Type: Implementation
Project Summary:
Funds will establish a new State Office for the nationally-recognized Parents as Teachers Program.
The project will:
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Provide training and support for established, local Parents as Teachers programs
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Provide direct services for at-risk families in Washington State
Parents as Teachers is an early learning program that enhances children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development through home visits, group meetings, health development screenings, and resource referrals.
Risky Beginnings
Award Amount: $2,500
Grant Period: 7/21/2007
Lead Agency: NCAST-AVENUW Programs
Community: Statewide
Grant Type: Event Sponsorship
Project Summary:
Sponsorship of the annual infant and mental health conference.
Voices for Washington Children
Award Amount: $1,000
Grant Period: 6/9/2007
Lead Agency: Children's Alliance
Community: Statewide
Grant Type: Event Sponsorship
Project Summary:
Sponsorship of annual event, Voices for Children Awards Luncheon.
Washington Scholarships for Early Learning Professionals
Award Amount: $250,000
Grant Period: 1/19/2006 - 12/31/2007
Lead Agency: Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network
Communities: Statewide
Grant Type: Implementation
Children Served: 10,000
Caregivers Served: 600
Project Summary:
Washington Scholarships for Child Care Professionals is a multi-year effort supported by several funders to provide scholarships and counseling support to increase staff qualifications in child care centers and family home care in Washington. The needs of enrolled child care teachers are addressed by providing tuition assistance, book assistance, paid release time and wage increases or bonuses upon completion of educational contracts. Employer needs are met by receiving a wage subsidy, promoting higher staff qualifications and reducing staff turnover. The needs of local community colleges are addressed by providing a reliable pool of potential students to justify the creation of standardized early childhood curricula in the community.
This successful effort began through the efforts of the City of Seattle and has provided scholarships to more than 600 scholars, affecting more than 12,000 children across Washington.
Partners: 30 Community Colleges
Peninsula Region
Dads Matter Conference
Award Amount: $5,000
Grant Period: 6/2/2007
Lead Agency: Prevention Works
Communities: Clallam and Jefferson Counties
Grant Type: Event Sponsorship
Project Summary:
Sponsorship of an annual parenting conference on the Olympic Peninsula.
Olympic Peninsula Early Learning Coalition
Award amount: $20,000
Grant Period: 7/1/2007 – 1/31/2008
Lead Agency: Olympic Educational Service District 114
Communities: Kitsap, Clallam and Jefferson, and the North Mason School District
Grant Type: Planning
Project Summary:
This proposal is for stage two coalition development support (Engagement). Funds will support early learning systems planning in a three county region that includes Kitsap, Clallam and Jefferson Counties and the North Mason School District. The project will work closely with existing coalitions – Kitsap Early Learning Everyone’s Welcome Coalition and the Clallam & Jefferson Counties’ Governor Summit Team.
The project will work closely with existing groups in order to:
- Analyze existing early learning data
- Conduct intensive community assessments sensitive to diverse needs
- Engage new partners and stakeholders to facilitate inter-community communication, planning and investment
Objectives:
- Understand existing early learning sytems
- Identify strengths, opportunities, gaps and potential resources to improve children’s preparedness and success in school
- Prepare for stage three (Strategic Planning) of coalition development
Audience:
- Eight tribal nations
- Families
- 15 school districts
- Formal and Informal child care
- Large and small towns
- Business and government
- Elected officials
- Community agencies
- Six military installations including the Navy’s Exceptional Family Member Homestead programs
Thurston County Community Strategic Plan
Award Amount: $25,000
Grant Period: 7/1/2006 - 9/30/2007
Lead Agency: United Way of Thurston County
Community: Thurston County
Grant Type: Planning Grant
Project Summary:
The Foundation awarded a one year $25,000 Planning Grant to Thurston County to fund the Thurston County Community Strategic Plan for Young Children.
The plan will assist coalition members on implementing a community-based, data-driven strategic plan to benefit children, prenatal through age five, and the systems that serve them.
Northwest Region
Child Care Resources Luncheon 2007
Award Amount: $1,500
Grant Period: 11/9/2007
Lead Agency: Child Care Resources
Community: King County
Grant Type: Event Sponsorship
Project Summary:
Event sponsorship to support the annual Child Care Resources luncheon.
City Club
Award Amount: $1,000
Grant Period: 5/10/2007
Lead Agency: City Club
Community: Seattle
Grant Type: Event Sponsorship
Project Summary: Sponsorship of a luncheon with early learning speakers.
Early Education: Can We Close the Preparation Gap? Speakers: Rep. Ruth Kagi, Patricia Kuhl, Phd.; John Bancroft and Sangree Froelicher.
Family, Friend and Neighbor Leaders Coalition
Award Amount: $25,000
Grant Period: TBD
Lead Agency: Child Care Resources
Communities: King County and Washington State
Project Summary:
To support the Family Friend and Neighbor Leaders Coalition (FFNLC), an association of 25 organizations. FFNLC includes foundations, city and county governments, United Way, researchers, and community based organizations that have a mutual interest in building a system of early learning that includes FFN caregivers. FFNLC develops and oversees all aspects of strategic planning, statewide replication, policy development and advocacy for FFN caregiving in King County and Washington State. This group is essential for system building that includes FFN support as a critical component for school readiness.
About FFN Support; Role of Leadership Team:
Family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) care is the most common childcare for infants, toddlers, and school age children during non-school hours, in Washington State and the USA. In King County, the primary caregivers of more than 51,000 children ages 0-12 are family, friends and neighbors. Many families use two or more types of care for their children, so the number of children using some FFN care is considerably higher. Statewide, FFN caregivers are the primary child care providers for over 200,000 children; nearly half a million Washington children age 0-12 are in some amount of FFN care. Considering approximately 100,000 of these children are aged birth to 5, the opportunity FFN caregivers have to influence early brain development is significant. The goal of ensuring that all young children are prepared to succeed in school and life can best be achieved by supporting all adults caring for children, including FFN caregivers.
Northeast Region
Northwest Inland Alliance for Early Learning
Award Amount: $25,000
Grant Period: 7/1/2006 - 12/31/2007
Lead Agency: Community Minded Enterprises
Communities: Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens
Grant Type: Planning
Project Summary:
The Spokane Early Learning Mobilization team, a collaborative of eight agencies, received a $25,000 Planning Grant to create and sustain a locally governed and unified Early Learning System in Spokane County. The program supports and improves access to high quality child care and preschool.
Southwest Region
Children's Village Lab School
Award Amount: $250,000
Grant Period: 8/1/2007 - 7/31/2009
Lead Agency: Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation
Community: Yakima
Grant Type: Program Implementation
Project Summary:
The goal of the Collaborative Lab Classroom is to have children develop school readiness skills to transition successfully into their local school district program. A group of multi-discipline providers offers individualized instruction and support for each child. Classes operate four days a week and there is a parent “chat” group offered on Mondays. The classroom also serves to further provide the community - especially teachers, parents and child care providers - with a center for professional training concerning services for children with special developmental needs.
Children's Village: Supporting Evidence-Based Practice
Award Amount: $250,000
Grantee: Yakima Valley Hospital Charitable Foundation
Partners: Multiple Yakima agencies
Project Summary:
Strengthening Evidence-Based Practice at Children’s Village is a planning and service expansion effort designed to build on current programs aimed at families at risk in Yakima County.
Focus will be on strengthening an Early Learning Continuum of Care to:
- Plan and develop a continuum of care to facilitate, identify, coordinate, and fund current and new services around Early Learning for families at risk
- Provide innovative mental health, Early intervention and Nurse Family Partnership and other services that fill acute needs of families at risk
Clark County Early Learning Fund Honoring Rick & Sarah Melching
Award Amount: $500,000
Grant Period: 7/1/2005 - 6/30/2008
Lead Agency: Foundation for Early Learning
Community: Clark County
Grant Type: Local Early Learning Fund
Project History:
In 2003, the Foundation for Early Learning created an early learning fund to match up to $500,000 of local funds raised at the annual Clark County luncheon to fund programs in Clark County. Each spring the Clark County Early Learning Fund (CCELF), Advisory Committee reviews proposals from SELF partners. It then recommends grants to be awarded from the CCELF fund to the Foundation. Grants listed below with the description "grant type: Clark County Early Learning Fund" have been awarded through this fund.
Let's Read Challenge Grant
Award Amount: $375,000
Grant Period: 6/15/2006 - 12/31/2008
Lead Agency: Circle of Success
Community: Yakima
Grant Type: Gift Matching Grant
Project History:
Let’s Read/Circle of Success is a community effort to provide literacy support to parents in helping their children to be school-ready. Participating families in Yakima County will receive free books monthly in conjunction with home visiting, public events and other services. Circle of Success also provides home visits, newborn baby packages and parenting support for more than 10,000 parents of young children in Yakima County. The Foundation’s investment has leveraged $5.66 in additional funding for each $1 invested.
Partner: Enterprise for Progress in the Community (EPIC)
Goals:
- Provide Education for parents on child development and learning readiness
- Build an adequately financed system of parent education for school preparation
- Improve the availability and accessibility of parent education and literacy materials
- Strengthen the professional development of quality parent and family educators
Ready Children
Award Amount: $85,000
Grant Period: 7/1/2007 - 6/30/2008
Lead Agency: Educational Service District 112
Community: Clark County
Grant Type: Clark County Early Learning Fund (CCELF)
Project Summary:
The Ready Children Initiative is designed to improve the quality of child care by:
- Increasing participation in the network of home-based child care providers
- narrowing the gap between early learning best practices and home-based providers' skill sets
The project intends to do this by strengthening the network's structure and enhancing professional training and support such that a "learning culture" results.
Ready Families
Award Amount: $85,000
Grant Period: 7/1/2007 - 6/30/2008
Lead Agency: Children's Home Society
Community: Clark County
Grant Type: Clark County Early Learning Fund (CCELF)
Project Summary:
Universal Home Visiting staff will deliver between one and three home visits to 150 families to help new parents understand what children need for optimal health and development. The project's name is universal home visiting because it is intended for any family with a new-born in the targeted area, not merely those deemed most at-risk.
Ready Schools
Award Amount: $85,000
Grant Period: 7/1/2007 - 6/30/2008
Lead Agency: Educational Service District 112
Community: Clark County
Grant Type: Clark County Early Learning Fund (CCELF)
Project Summary:
The Ready Schools System Development Project is a relationship-based approach to systemic change. It will engage a 25 member Ready Schools Advisory Committee in a process to generate two take aways:
- A "Ready Schools Standard Operating Procedures" document
- A unified assessment plan to facilitate transition from early care settings to the public schools
The problem: There is no uniform, integrated system to facilitate transition from child care or preschool to kindergarten. The existing school readiness efforts are fragmented, so a coordinated effort has been established to address those issues.
Southeast Region
Walla Walla Early Learning Community Partnership
Award Amount: $6,550
Grant Period: 6/21/2007 - 9/30/2007
Lead Agency: Walla Walla Community College
Community: Walla Walla
Grant Type: Coalition Stage One
Project Summary:
Funds will be used to retain three contracted professionals to help
increase understanding and capacity for a systematic approach to
community mobilization, and draft a coalition development plan and
grant proposal to the Sherwood Trust to fund stages two, three and four
of coalition development.
Activities:
- Facilitated retreat of 20 Steering Committee members June 21, 2007
- Follow-up meetings
- Draft of grant proposal the Sherwood Trust July 31, 2007
- Retain a Consultant for June 21 retreat
- Retain Facilitator to assist with follow-up meetings
- Retain a Grant Writer to draft proposal to Sherwood Trust