The Yamhill Early Learning Hub is releasing funds for two separate project opportunities. Please see the information and attachments below to learn more!
Opportunity #1: Holistic Wellness
BACKGROUND
Yamhill Community Care (YCCO) Early Learning Hub is releasing funds for projects that will occur between February 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021. These funds will support programs that provide school readiness, family stability, or health/wellbeing within Yamhill County. Applicants must serve populations 0-8 years old and their families. Projects must address the holistic wellness needs of staff employed by the applying agency. While supplies may be included in the proposal, qualifying applications will be centered around activities or resources to support staff who are depleted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Examples of projects that would qualify include but certainly are not limited to:
- Hosting a series of yoga classes for staff
- Hiring a mindfulness instructor to attend and participate in staff meetings
- Reimbursing for gas and purchasing food to have a walking staff retreat at the coast
- Purchasing incentives for a staff walking competition
To view the full request for proposals click here: Holistic Wellness RFP
Please utilize the following attachments when submitting a proposal for this opportunity: Cover Page | Budget Template
Opportunity #2: Parent Engagement
BACKGROUND
Yamhill Community Care (YCCO) Early Learning Hub is releasing funds for projects that will occur between February 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021. These funds will support programs that provide school readiness, family stability, or health/wellbeing within Yamhill County. Applicants must serve populations 0-8 years old and their families. Successful projects will provide healthy family activities and/or support parents with the additional challenges of caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Examples of projects that would qualify include but certainly are not limited to:
- Designing a family activity such as a scavenger hunt with prizes for completion
- Hosting and providing incentives for attending a workshop on supporting distance learning
- Hiring a consultant to hold online support groups for families
- Hiring an instructor to host a Mommy/Daddy & Me yoga class on Zoom
Awarded applicants agree to share with participating families information about Mid-Valley Parenting, which will be provided by Yamhill Early Learning Hub prior to the event.
To view the full request for proposals click here: Parent Engagement RFP
Please utilize the following attachments when submitting a proposal for this opportunity: Cover Page | Budget Template
Opportunity #3: Childcare Expansion in Yamhill County
The Yamhill CCO COVID Relief Subcommittee has awarded Childcare Resource & Referral with a $300k grant to support childcare expansion in Yamhill County.
Local businesses, including but not limited to current childcare providers, are invited to submit proposals to support the implementation or expansion of quality childcare options in Yamhill County. Applicants are required to be providing services in Yamhill County, or must expand services to Yamhill County to be considered for funding.
BACKGROUND
According to a 2019 study prepared by Oregon State University, only 16% of Yamhill County children ages 0-5 have access to quality, licensed childcare. At 10%, access is even more limited for children under age 2. These numbers show that Yamhill County is truly a childcare desert.
Yamhill CCO understands that a lack of quality childcare is a Social Determinant of Health and is looking for ways to have a positive impact on the long-term wellbeing of its members. Social Determinants of Health include access to quality education, economic stability, health, safety, and food access. As President and CEO Seamus McCarthy states, “Childcare is a basic human need. If our members can’t access reliable childcare, their lives are impacted in numerous ways, from food insecurity to increased anxiety and many other issues that have long-term detrimental impacts on health and wellbeing. Ensuring that our members have a safe and quality place to leave their children while they work is critical to our whole community’s wellbeing.”
A childcare feasibility study funded by Yamhill County and Yamhill CCO’s Early Learning Hub and conducted by Pacific Research and Evaluation allowed for further understanding of local parents’ childcare needs and preferences. Key findings showed that a third of the 251 families surveyed preferred center-based care. Top priorities for care included a clean space, engaging staff, and regular communication between families and staff. Top barriers for families to access care included limited affordable options, lack of available spots, and lack of flexible scheduling.
One parent said, “I work in schools and have had to quit my job due to a lack of affordable daycare.” Another said, “We do not qualify for low income. But we also can’t afford care.”
When speaking to lack of available spots, a parent said ““El problema es que no hay espacio disponible para las familias o tienen que estar en una lista de espera! “[“The problem is that there is no available space for families, or they have to be on waitlists!”]
This issue impacts businesses as well as parents. Forty-two percent of the 41 businesses taking the survey said that they have lost employees during the pandemic due to lack of access to childcare and/or challenges with distance learning. If a local business would like to participate in a partnership to develop childcare options for their employees, contact Abisha Stone, Economic Development Manager for SEDCOR, at AStone@sedcor.com or call (503)507-4175.
You can view all of the information for this opportunity and learn how to apply by going to the CCR&R website linked here: https://mwvcaa.org/programs/child-care-resource-and-referral/provider-resources/yamhill-county-child-care-expansion-grant/