FY17 PCHP Family Child Care Quality EnhancementGrant (Fund Code 238)
FY17 PCHP Family Child Care Quality Enhancement Grant (Fund Code 238)
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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GRANT REQUIREMENTS:
Q1. Out of state travel is listed as unallowable. Would attendance at the PCHP conference be an allowable exception?
Will the grant allow the subcontracted PCHP FCC Coordinators to attend the PCHP National Conference in May which is an “out of state” training?
A1. EEC will consider a request for travel to the national PCHP conference for a maximum of one or two PCHP staff (coordinators and/or early literacy specialists) delivering the PCHP FCC model through this grant per participating agency. This request may not supplant funds allocated in the FY2017 CFCE grant for this purpose. If EEC approves a request for participation, it is expected that participation and travel costs would be cost-shared with the lead agencyand fully described in the budget narrative.
Q2. May prospective subcontractors sign collaboration agreements with more than one lead agency applicant?
A2. Yes, but there may only be one primary contractor, who is legally responsible for complying with the contract. The remaining bidders must be designated as subcontractors.
Q3. We were given the FY '14 list of CFCE grantees required to provide the PCHP program through CFCE. Are there any changes to the list for FY '17?
A3. The current list of CFCE grantees that have PCHP embedded in their grants are:
FY 2017 CFCE Lead Agencies Providing PCHPAyer Shirley Regional District School
Boston Public Schools
Brookline Public Schools
Child Care of the Berkshires
Clinton Public Schools
Collaborative for Educational Services
Communities United, Inc.
Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire & North Quabbin Regions
Framingham Public Schools
Gill-Montague RSD
Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc.
Leominster Public Schools
Lowell Public Schools
Lynn Public Schools
Medford Public Schools
Montachusett Opportunity Council
Newton Public Schools
Northampton Public Schools
PACE Child Care Works
Pittsfield Public Schools
Plymouth Public Schools
QCAP Head Start
Salem Public Schools
Somerville Public Schools
Springfield Public Schools
Triumph, Inc.
Valuing Our Children
Wareham Public Schools
Watertown Public Schools
Worcester Public Schools
YMCA of Central Massachusetts Together We Can
Q4. Is the lead agency allowed to be one of the Family Child Care (FCC) implementation sites and contract with up to 5 additional sites to make up the recommended 6 sites?
A4. Yes.
Q5. Will EEC charge the lead agency for providing the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) QRIS and Continuous Quality Improvement Plans (CQIP) training? If so, what is the charge?
A5.EEC will not charge the lead agency for the QRIS and CQIP training.
Q6. Is there a recommended or required percentage of children ages sixteen (16) months to four (4) years old in participating PCHP FCC programs?
A6. While there is not a required percentage of children between the ages of sixteen months old to four years old, the PCHP program is designed for children within this age range. EEC expects that the program will be most effective ifparticipating FCC programs serve a majority of children within the sixteen months to four years old age range.
Q7. The PCHP’s National Center has recently changed the title of home visitors to "Early Learning Specialists." The RFR refers to them as "Early Literacy Specialists." Does EEC have a preference for which title to use in the proposal?
A7. EEC has recently learned of the decision of the PCHP’s National Center to changethe title of home visitors from “Early Literacy Specialists” to “Early Learning Specialists”, and will therefore use the name “Early Learning Specialists” to align with the national center.
Q8. Will EEC be providing the training for the QRIS or should the applicant find a consultant and a place in which to hold the training?
A8. EEC will provide training for the QRIS.
Q9. Will the PCHP’sNational Centerprovide training on the PCHP FCC model and is there a consultant cost to that training? What fee has been negotiated so that it can be put in each vendor’sbudget?
A9. The selected vendor must contract with the PCHP’s National Center to provide this training, and the rate for the training is $2000 per site. For example, if the lead agency subcontracts with five other PCHP programs, then the total amount owed would be 6 x $2000 or $12,000. Applicants must work with the PCHP’s National Center to schedule the training date/location(please see additional information on attached document).
Q10. Will EEC be providing the training for FCCERS or should the applicant find a consultant and a place in which to hold the training?
A10. The successful applicant should identify a consultant who is authorized to provide the training. This information should be shared in the applicant’s budget narrative and will become part of the overall training plan submitted to EEC for approval.
Q11. Is there a prescribed numberof weeks the program should be in operation, or it is reasonable to run a program that closes during the summer months?
A11. The prescribed number of weeks for a completeprogram year is 24 weeks, but due to the funding timeline, this will not be possible for the first year,estimated February-June. Given timeconstraints, sites are advised to schedule 12-16 weeks of visits for the first year,estimated February-June. In subsequent years, subject to appropriation, EEC expects selected vendors will complete 24 weeks of programming. FCC programs operate for 12 months, so the FCC educator and the PCHP early learning specialist should work together to determine the best time to offer the PCHP model in a consistent 24 week model.
Q12. Is there a collaborative agreement template or is the applicant able to develop one independently of EEC and the PCHP’s National Center?
A12. Applicants can develop their own collaborative agreement template.
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