Scott County Kids Early Childhood IowaAPPLICATION for FUNDING

Throughout Iowa, early education and early care providers, families, business leaders and communities are creating a buzz about…

The answer: There are 2000 days between birth and the first day of kindergarten. The first 2000 days of a child’s life have a PROFOUND and LIFELONG impact on physical and emotional wellbeing, readiness to learn and succeed, and ability to become a productive citizen. Project 2000 Days Purpose:As an early childhood professional, you know the importance of the first 2000 days in a child’s life. Scott County Kids Early Childhood Iowa and Scott County Riverboat Development Authority (RDA) would like to help you share this message with the community with Project 2000 Days! We want to use our dollars to help you obtain private donor funds for quality improvement equipment for your learning environment. This matching grant opportunity will assist you to achieve the goals of:

1)Building public/private partnerships designed to improve outcomes for young children in Scott County, Iowa.

2)Increasing quality equipment for DHS licensed centers and registered homes.

3)Raising private sector awareness about the critical importance of early childhood.

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4)Aligning public and private funds to maximize the impact and benefits to children.

Who is eligible?DHS licensed childcare centers and registered homes that are participating (or will apply for) in at least one quality improvement effort such as NAEYC, NAFCCA, QPPS standards, and Iowa DHS Quality Rating Scale.

How does this application work?This collaborative effort is to assist eligible applicants to 1) purchase quality improvement items in their learning environments and 2) help educate and raise awareness in the community about Project 2000 Days by building public/private partnerships.

There is a total of $45,000.00 for Project 2000 Days- $15,000.00 from Scott County Kids Early Childhood Iowa and $15,000.00 from Scott County Regional Authority. Each applicant will identify a local business partner(s) to obtain match funds for an additional total of $15,000.00 for the early childhood learning community. This is a great opportunity to use public funds of Scott County Kids Early Childhood Iowa and match private RDA funds and local business partners- a 1:1:1 match!

Take this opportunity to promote, engage and educate the business community on the importance of the first 2000 days of a child’s life. Strategize with the businesses on how they can directly influence their future workforce by investing into early childhood education and early care environments. Inform business leaders on the educational and quality standards that children are learning and developing; social, math, and reading skills. Equalize the conversations with businesses by demonstrating that early childhood education and early care is a business investment and with every dollar invested in quality learning environments there is a return on the investment of $14.00!! Research indicates that children who have a quality early childhood education experience have a higher rate of graduation and have a lower rate of entering into Department of Human Services, Juvenile Justice System and lower rates of going to jail as an adult. Tell your potential business collaborators that their investment is part of a local match funding opportunity, so their private dollars are to leverage additional public and other private funds!

Due to limited funds, each application has a maximum award amount of $1,500.00= $500.00 (SCKECI) + $500.00 (RDA) and + $500.00 (local business partner(s)). Therefore, there will be a minimum of 30 awards. Remember, not every applicant will ask for the maximum amount of $1,500.00 so, please apply to meet the needs of your home or center.

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Each applicant will identify and submit to Scott County Kids Early Childhood Iowa:

1) Copy of the DHS center license or DHS child development home registration certificate.

2) State the ages of children being cared for at the center or home.3) What quality initiative are you achieving or maintaining?4) A brief narrative on how the quality equipment request will assist in

achieving or maintaining quality standards. (maximum 500 words)5) Identify specific equipment and itemized costs to be purchased with

grant funds. 6) Please state timeline on ordering, purchase date, and installation if

needed. 7) A brief discussion on how you educated, informed and engaged your

business partner(s). 8) Written documentation from business partner(s) verifying:

a. financial commitment to this projectb. brief discussion of what they learned about early education and

early care providers, maximum of 250 words. (must be attached)

9) Identify strategies on how you will promote and inform business stakeholders and the community at large on your specific Project 2000 Days plan.

10) Copy of the quality initiative application that will be sent to accrediting/awarding agency. For example a copy of the Quality Rating System application that will be sent to DHS. State when this application will be submitted to appropriate agency.

What to do now:1) Submit application (original and 5 copies) with required information by

January   15,   2013 at 4:00 pm to: Scott County Kids Early Childhood Iowa600 W. 4th Street, 6th FloorDavenport, IA 52801

2) Scott County Kids Early Childhood Iowa review committee and the Scott County Child Care Nurse Consultant will review all applications and make final funding decisions.

a. Criteria for fundingi. Applicant submitted all required information, including

written documentation from business partner(s). ii. Applicant clearly identified increased quality rating or

increase quality standards. (example will apply for QRS level 2, April 2013)

iii. Applicant demonstrated need for quality improvement equipment.

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iv. Applicant timeline for order, purchase and installation will be completed before June 15, 2013.

v. Evaluation of the Project 2000 Day project is reasonable.vi. Promotion strategies for Project 2000 Days are effective,

creative and informational. b. All applicants will be notified of funding decisions.c. All funding decisions are final and there will not be an appeal

process. 3) Nonnegotiable criteria for participating in grant:

a. No equipment can be ordered or purchased until a valid contract is signed between Scott County Kids Early Childhood Iowa and an early childhood entity.

b. All purchases are on a reimbursement payment system and payment details will be outlined in the contract. Reminder, each entity will purchase the items and submit receipts to Scott County Kids for reimbursement payment.

c. All invoices and receipts must be submitted prior to reimbursement

d. There will be no reimbursement for items ordered, purchased or received after June 15th, 2013.

e. Business partners may not be an already established relationship.

f. Applicants cannot utilize current center specific parent support funds.

i. Purpose of this funding is to educate, engage and inform new business partners on Project 2000 Days and the importance of early childhood education.

4) All applicants will receive 2000 Days promotional materials from Scott County Kids Early Childhood Iowa and RDA. The purpose of these materials is to spur conversation and increase public awareness of the 2000 Days.

Thank you for all of your work in the early childhood field. You make a difference in the lives of children and families. Now with Project 2000 Days, together we will collectively impact our community on the importance of early childhood care and education.

There are 2000 days between birth and the first day of kindergarten. The first 2000 days of a child’s life have a PROFOUND and LIFELONG impact on the physical and emotional wellbeing, readiness to learn and succeed, and ability to become a productive citizen.

Anticipated question and answer:

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Question: If I am applying to maintain a quality initiative what are the chances of receiving funds? Answer: This will depend upon the number of applicants applying for funds that will assist them in achieving a quality initiative verses the number applying for funds that will assist them in maintaining quality initiative. Priority will be given to those who will be able to achieve a quality initiative.

The scoring grid reviewers will use to evaluate these applications has been attached.

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