First 5 Sacramento is seeking an agency that will contract for a Parent Coordinator to oversee and implement activities that promote parent involvement and shared decision-making in the planning, development, and implementation of services in Sacramento County that impact families with children ages zero through five.    The total amount of funding is $540,000 for a 3-year term of July 1, 2024-June 30, 2027. Please see the attached Specifications Sheet for more details. 

A. Purpose of The Funding First 5 Sacramento’s vision is that Sacramento County will have strong communities where children are safe, healthy, and reach their full potential. To this end, First 5 uses tobacco tax revenue through Proposition 10 to support early childhood development through advocacy, and systems improvement, and by funding a range of essential prevention and early intervention programs for Sacramento County children ages 0 to 5 and their families.

The First 5 Commission has laid out its foundational belief and core truth that racism, not race, is the root of health and early learning disparities. The Commission’s efforts focus on Racial Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Cultural Responsiveness (REDI +CR) to ensure we, and our partners, are equitably meeting the needs of Sacramento County’s children and families.

The First 5 Sacramento Commission routinely engages in a Strategic Planning process to determine community needs, assets, and gaps where the Commission may be able to have an impact in ensuring children have the best start in life. The 2024 Strategic Plan, which was approved on April 4, 2023, identifies five priorities for investment for Fiscal Years 2024-25 through 2026-27. The entire strategic planning process was designed to center racial equity, to be highly inclusive, and to be data-informed.

Subsequently, Commission staff expanded on the Strategic Plan by developing a 2024 Implementation Plan, which was approved on June 5, 2023. Both of these plans are available on the Commission’s website at first5sacramento.saccounty.gov. The Implementation Plan provides a roadmap for funding. It includes details regarding funded strategies, the primary population to be served, the funding mechanism, and the three-year allocation for each strategy. Within this roadmap, each strategy indicates a funding process.

This funding opportunity is a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) that allows for the submission of proposals detailing proposed services and a budget. Competitive RFPs enable the Commission to seek out qualified proposers who can provide effective services to identified populations using evidence-based, best, and promising practices.

The funding for this competitive RFP is focused on Parent Partnerships.

B. Primary Population
The First 5 Sacramento Commission funds shall serve pregnant women, children aged zero through five, their parents/caregivers, and early learning professionals in Sacramento County. Children are eligible for Commission-funded activities up to their 6th birthday or until they enter kindergarten, whichever comes first. For further details regarding the specific population to be served under this RFP, please refer to the RFP Specifications Sheet.

C. Amount of Funding and Contract Term
Funding is available for three years beginning July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027. Please see the RFP Specifications Sheet for the recommended funding amounts under this competitive RFP.

Funding for approved programs will be subject to periodic fiscal and program evaluation to ensure that the anticipated results are being achieved. The Commission is under no obligation to continue funding beyond the contract term.