Background and Purpose

Maryland Family Network (MFN) is Maryland’s intermediary for comprehensive, community-based programs serving infants, toddlers and their families. MFN supports a statewide network of programs with funding, training, technical assistance, and quality assurance services. In 1995, MFN applied successfully for Early Head Start (EHS) and was awarded funding for two of the first EHS programs in the country. Currently, MFN serves as the recipient for 11 sub-recipient agencies with 15 EHS Centers operating in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties. Together, these EHS Centers work to build in each community a flexible, comprehensive, holistic, and integrated set of supports for infants, toddlers, and their families.

Performing the role of the recipient agency, Maryland Family Network operates in partnership with local entities to accomplish its mission: “…to ensure that young children and their families have the resources to learn and succeed.” The recipient agency provides contract management, resource development and management, network coordination, technical assistance, training, monitoring, among other quality assurance services. Early Head Start programs provide early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services on a year-round basis to low-income families with children under age three in order to enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development; to support parents’ efforts to fulfill their parental roles; and to help parents move towards self-sufficiency.

MFN will identify a private and/or public non-profit organization to serve as the Sub-Recipient agency responsible for operating Early Head Start services in Caroline County. At this time, Caroline County EHS operates three sites. The selected Sub-Recipient agency will assume responsibility for operations effective August 1, 2023. Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they are locally-based with knowledge of the community’s needs and resources, and experience providing services to families in Caroline County.

Program Model and Approach

MFN’s Early Head Start programs are child-centered, family-focused programs that serve infants, toddlers and their families. These prevention oriented, early intervention programs are offered in welcoming settings where a two-generational approach to services shows respect for both parents and children as individuals. EHS Centers build on the strengths of the family combined with high quality practices as laid out by the Head Start Program Performance Standards. Centers strive to:

  • Promote the full development and general competence of children and to reduce the occurrence of any emotional, physical, and/or social delays through appropriate preventative services.
  • Support and strengthen caregiver-child-family interactions. 
  • Provide and/or refer for community resources necessary for increased parental self-sufficiency.
  • Serve as a community where parents with young children can experience support and establish positive connections with others.

Caroline County Early Head Start is currently funded to serve 95 children in three different locations. 75 children receive services through a regular EHS grant. These children receive services for a total of 1380 hours per year in center-based programming serving children Monday-Friday, 6.5 hours a day.  20 children receive services through a Child Care Partnership Grant (CCP). These children also receive a minimum of 1380 hours of center-based programming a year, Monday – Friday. Parents of children enrolled in this grant must be working or in school to qualify. It offers extended child-care for up to 10 hours per day. Child-care scholarship resources are available to the Center as pass-through funding from the MarylandState Department of Education (MSDE) to MFN.

Center Locations

The current center location at 100 N. 6th Street, Denton is available for lease to the new Sub-Recipient.  Space may be available for lease in the other two current centers, 323 S. University Ave., Federalsburg, and 625 N. Main Street, Greensboro. 

Staffing

EHS Centers must have staffing to support administrative, supervisory, educational, case management/advocacy and child development functions. MFN will work with applicants to determine the staffing needs for the center. The selection of individuals to fill key management positions is a collaborative partnership between MFN and the sub-recipient agency. 

Funding

MFN provides funding for these two grants through Federal resources. This funding is awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, and the Office of Head Start. For 2023, the funding for 75 children in the regular EHS grant is $1,500,698. For 2023, the funding for 20 children served through the Child Care Partnership grant is $287,375. Both Federal awards require a 20% non-federal match and both have a 15% administrative limit. Child Care Scholarship funding through MSDE, as mentioned above, supplements the CCP budget. 

How to Apply

Organizations interested in being considered for the role of the sub-recipient agency for the Caroline Early Head Start Program will submit their application (see list below) to MFN by 4:30 PM on  June 15, 2023 through email correspondence to Faith Miller at fmiller@marylandfamilynetwork.org.

Include a title page presenting the legal name of the applicant agency, address, phone, federal identification number, name of agency’s contact person for questions related to this project, along with contact information, and name of agency fiscal contact.

A letter prepared on the applicant’s business stationery and signed by an individual authorized to bind the agency to all statements contained in the application. The letter should clearly state the organization’s intent to operate the Caroline County Early Head Start Centers at their current locations at the funding amount available through MFN, and include a statement of assurance that the applicant will work with MFN to ensure minimal disruption in services for the ninety-five infants, toddlers, and their families enrolled in Caroline County.

A description of the organization’s prior program experience, areas of expertise, personnel policies that reflect compatibility with Family Support / Early Head Start principles, fiscal management capability, and relationship to the community. Provide evidence that the applicant is culturally competent, with a commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and otherwise capable of delivering high quality, highly desired service. 

Using job descriptions to be provided, indicate the type of personnel to be used (new and/or existing staff) for the operation of the Center. Any proposed delivery of services by subcontractors, rather that employees than employees of the applicant, should be discussed and justified in detail.

An organizational chart showing the inclusion and supervision of this Early Head Start program.

Provide a full-year (12 month) programmatic budget. The budget should include any additional sources of income and in-kind commitments supporting the Center’s operations. Existing furnishings, equipment, computers, etc. of the Caroline Early Head Start Program will convey for use by the new sub-recipient agency. 

Copies of the last two certified, annual, entity-wide financial audits, including related management letters, and the most recent interim financial statement. Include A-133 Single Audit, if completed.

Timeline

  • Virtual Information Meeting                         May 8, 2023 at 3:00 PM
  • Second Virtual Information Meeting            May 22, 2023 1:00 PM
    Click here to join the meeting.
    Passcode: B68Qno
  • Application Due                                           June 15, 2023
  • Application Review & Follow Up                 June 16, 2023 – July 3, 2023
  • Selection Announcement                            July 5, 2023
  • Contracting Process                                   July/August 2023
  • Service Start Date                                      September 5, 2023

Supplemental Documents – For review by all prospective applicants

Questions about MFN’s Early Head Start program and/or the application process should be directed by email only to Faith Miller, EHS Program Director at fmiller@marylandfamilynetwork.org and copied to Shawan Burke, EHS Assistant Director of Family Services at sburke@marylandfamilynetwork.org and Laura Pearce, EHS Assistant Director of Child Development at lpearce@marylandfamilynetwork.org.

Please contact Faith Miller fmiller@marylandfamilynetwork.org for a link to the virtual information meeting on May 16, 2023 at 1:00 PM. 

Questions and Answers as of 5/22/23: When questions are received and answers, provided, updates will be made.

Q: Please share funding and expense information related to this center.

A: A general budget is attached and titled: “EHS 95 and CCP budget Caroline County”. In addition, attached is a Salary Reference Guide, general job descriptions for EHS Positions and information about supplemental funds through the Child Care Scholarship.

Q: How many children/slots are included in this grant?

A: Faith confirm this is right: 95 funded slots are included in this program opportunity, funded by MFN’s EHS 95 and CCP Federal grants. Also see the “Classroom Breakdown Caroline County” document.

Q: Will the Caroline County Schools be willing to lease existing space ?

A: See the RFP and also please reach out to Heather Harding (contact info) to learn more about possible space rental.

Q: Why is this an RFP rather than just a conversation with interested agency leaders, since there are likely few eligible or interested parties in the county.

A: MFN, according to it’s Fiscal Policies and Procedures, must follow fair and equitable procurement processes for awards. We are interested in sharing the same information with any interested applicant. This open process does not require that everybody be present for every conversation, but rather that MFN diligently and publicly share the same information and opportunities. Interested parties, for example, are encouraged to read the supplemental documents but also to reach out to CCPS employees directly  to ask questions. This is upon the request of CCPS. As noted above, Heather Harding, is the first point of contact. In turn, CCPS will ensure that the substance of any information shared is provided to MFN for inclusion in this Q & A record. There is precedent for this approach, in that MFN recently published an RFP for a provider to take over operations of the Baltimore City Dukeland site. Upon receiving only one application from a qualified applicant, MFN then proceeded to enter into a collaborative negotiation with that provider.