First 5 SMC: Systems and Supports for Children with Special Needs Request for Applications (RFA)

Description

Through this Systems and Supports for Children with Special Needs Request for Applications, the Commission intends to solicit applications from qualified agencies and organizations interested in serving as the lead agency to implement the Help Me Grow San Mateo County system with a focus on systems improvement, increasing access to developmental screening and supports, and coordinated care and warm hand-offs to support children with and at-risk for disabilities or developmental concerns, their families, and the providers who serve them. The Help Me Grow San Mateo County system includes four structural components, as well as additional tailored services to support families with children from birth to age 5 and their providers with developmental and behavioral needs.The upcoming three-year funding term marks an important shift in the Help Me Grow SMC service delivery philosophy. While the intent of Help Me Grow San Mateo County is to serve all children, given the changes in local service provision and the constraints of limited resources, F5SMC is adopting a targeted universalism approach, rooted in the belief that by prioritizing systemic barriers for marginalized and underserved populations, the systems will become more accessible to all. Therefore, applicants should propose how their services and approaches will prioritize support for those with the greatest need while still maintaining a universally available access point. More information on the rationale for this approach and the definition of targeted universalism is contained in the Background section of this document.This vision for HMG SMC is intended to link to new service delivery and resourcing opportunities, and to broaden beyond the HMG core components to elevate systems building elements to more effectively serve young children with special needs and their families and to promote a more integrated system of care.We encourage approaches that: 1) support families to more effective