Measure A grant boosts early learning at two sites in Daly City with teacher training, support for parents
group of children

Important note: The following recommendation was approved by the Board of Supervisors on April 12, 2016:

DISTRICT 5 (Supervisor Adrienne Tissier) FYs 2015-17 Measure A Request Peninsula Family Service

Enhancement of Infant and Toddler Programs $245,000 total

This is a request to authorize an agreement with Peninsula Family Service for the term April 12, 2016, through June 30, 2017 in an amount not to exceed $245,000 to support and enhance its infant and toddler programs at the Mission and Midway Early Learning Centers in Daly City. For the reasons set forth below it is in the County’s best interests to waive the Request for Proposals process. The proposed agreement will be administered and managed by the County’s Human Services Agency.

Peninsula Family Service is a partner in the Daly City Big Lift program, a collaboration between the Daly City Partnership and Jefferson Elementary School District, one of four funded communities representing communities of concern where the rate of children who were proficient in reading at third grade fell at or below the county average. Peninsula Family Service’s Mission Child Development Center is the only infant-based program in Daly City serving a total of 35 children 6 weeks to 3 years old. In addition, there is another classroom at the Midway site that serves 14 children ages 18 months to 3 years. Both of these programs are excluded from the enhancements of the Big Lift initiative due to age restriction.

Best practices in early learning correlate ongoing training with high quality programs. Family support and engagement efforts are limited for the 0-3 population without additional  financial support. It is in the County’s best interests to waive its RFP process because Peninsula Family Service is already a partner in the Daly City Big Lift Program and is best positioned to extend Big Lift support to the infant and toddler children enrolled in the Mission and Midway Early Learning Center. The extension of these services to infants and toddlers will provide the parents and children engaged in these centers with evidenced based support including:

  • Coaching and training for classroom teachers
  • Increased classroom supplies and materials
  • On-going professional development for teachers to learn best-practice assessment tools
  • Mental Health Consultation
  • Implementation of developmental screenings and well checks for all children
  • Participation in Raising A Reader Book Bag Program to increase literacy in families
  • Increased opportunities for family engagement, with a Family Engagement Coordinator to coordinate parent cafes, parent education and engagement activities, and work with families on transition to preschool
  • Continued implementation toward Tier 4 level on San Mateo County’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)

The Human Services Agency will work Peninsula Family Service staff on including performance objectives for the County’s Measure A funds in the agreement.

Important note: This is a copy of the official report -- item 9 on the Board's agenda.