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Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between First 5 Sonoma County, First 5 Solano, Marin County Office of Education, First 5 Napa County, First 5 Mendocino, First 5 Del Norte County, First 5 Humboldt County, and First 5 Lake County for purposes of setting forth the roles and responsibilities of the parties related to the First 5 California’s Regional Coordination and Training and Technical Assistance Hubs grant for a term of April 1, 2016 through June 30, 2020; and Delegate authority to the Executive Director of First 5 Solano to sign the agreement and any future amendments
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
First 5 Solano recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between First 5 Sonoma County, First 5 Solano, Marin County Office of Education, First 5 Napa County, First 5 Mendocino, First 5 Del Norte County, First 5 Humboldt County, and First 5 Lake County, for purposes of setting forth the roles and responsibilities of the parties related to the First 5 California’s Regional Coordination and Training and Technical Assistance Hubs grant for a term of April 1, 2016 through June 30, 2020; and
2. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of First 5 Solano to sign the agreement and any future amendments
SUMMARY:
In FY2015/16, First 5 California (F5CA) released two Request for Applications (RFAs) for the First 5 Improve and Maximize Programs so All Children Thrive (IMPACT) program. The first RFA was to provide funding for First 5s and community partners to create local quality improvement systems to coordinate, assess and improve early learning settings. First 5 Solano applied for these funds and was awarded nearly $1.1 million over 5 years to create a local early care and education consortium and engage a minimum of 56 early care and education sites throughout the County to assist them with developing and implementing quality improvement plans.
The second RFA released by F5CA provided regional funding for coordination, technical assistance, and training to support the local programs. F5CA assigned Solano County to Region 1 with 7 other counties, and by regional consensus, First 5 Sonoma applied to be the lead agency and fiscal agent for the Region. In June 2016, F5CA awarded Region 1 and First 5 Sonoma as the fiscal agent funding in the amount of $1.36 million to implement and operate the Region 1 Hub as well as $221,400 to support local First 5 data collection needs. The MOU (Attachment A) outlines the roles and responsibilities of First 5 Sonoma as the Lead Fiscal Agent, the Region 1 Hub, and each local county participant.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for the operation of the Region 1 Hub comes from F5CA to First 5 Sonoma. Through the MOU, First 5 Solano may be reimbursed approved Hub expenses, such as travel for Hub operations, hosting trainings for the Hub member counties, and local data system needs. There is no impact the County General Fund for the MOU.
DISCUSSION:
Goal 3 of the First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission Strategic Plan is that all children learn and develop through high quality care. To this end, First 5 Solano has consistently partnered with F5CA to implement programs that encourage early care and education providers to strengthen their services.
In FY2015/16 F5CA allocated funding for the First 5 IMPACT program at the local, regional, and statewide level. First 5 Solano was funded for the local IMPACT program and partners with Solano County Office of Education for implementation of the program which aligns with their other quality early care and education programs.
First 5 Sonoma was funded as the Lead Fiscal Agency for Region 1 comprised of 8 counties geographically spanning from Solano to Del Norte. As the Lead Fiscal Agent, First 5 Sonoma County will develop, implement, coordinate, oversee and monitor Hub activities, which will include technical assistance to counties, training of specialized staff, such as coaches and assessors, coordinating the collaborative operation of the Hub and to provide specialized support to local consortia counties in the region as members of the Region 1 Consortium. Each county, including Solano, will participate in quarterly HUB meetings, have a vote in all HUB decisions, receive technical assistance from First 5 Sonoma, participate in regional training, and be reimbursed for HUB and database related expenses.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose to request clarification or remand this MOU back to First 5 Solano for revision. This is not recommended because this will result in the delay of implementation of technical assistance for the local IMPACT program.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The MOU has been developed in partnership with the eight county Region 1 partners and approved by County Counsel.