Collaboration is key to maximizing school readiness, according to First 5 of Santa Barbara County. To help prepare children for their future education, First 5 is teaming up with several local foundations to fund grants for children and families living in high-need communities.
The Community Collaborative Initiative promotes a new vision for early childhood education in Santa Barbara County. Supported by the Santa Barbara Foundation, the James S. Bower Foundation, the Hutton Foundation, and the Orfalea Foundation, the program will fund Community Collaboratives responsible for planning and implementing early education services.
“Imagine a community that is successful at raising all children to be healthy, capable, ready for school, and ready for life. That’s the vision of this initiative,” Adrianna Foss, early childhood education director for the Orfalea Foundation, said in a press release.
The First 5 Santa Barbara County Commission is now requesting proposals for planning grants. Templates are available online at first5santabarbaracounty.org.
Recipients of first-phase grants are expected to develop a strategic plan for their Community Collaborative, including a community needs assessment and goals for the next 10 years. The plan must also address how the collaborative will contribute to school readiness through several focus areas, such as early child development and health and safety.
Proposals are due to the First 5 office by Feb. 27 at 1 p.m., regardless of postmarks. The total amount of funding available is approximately $75,000 for each of the three planning grants, which will begin on July 1.
According to information from First 5,
the Community Collaboratives Initiative is based on successful educational models used by such groups as the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York.
Call 884-8085 for more information. m
School Scene is compiled by News Editor Amy Asman. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Jan 21-28, 2010.