Navigator Mini Grants due December 1, 2021:
Strengthening Access for Families to Early Childhood Programming
The Context:
A priority for the Think Babies Michigan policy initiative is to strengthen how families learn about and access early childhood programs and services beginning with pregnancy to age 3. Families face many known barriers to enrolling in services from not being aware of what is offered to complicated applications and requirements and unavailability of programs in their community. Challenges to accessing services are even more prevalent in BIPOC and rural communities.
With recent historic investments to expand eligibility for child care assistance and the availability of home visiting and Early On, it is more important than ever to ensure that families access these supports and resources.
The Opportunity:
With support from Think Babies Michigan, an initiative funded by the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, the goal is to fund community-based organizations and parent-led initiatives to support families in learning about and choosing early childhood services.
Think Babies Michigan will award mini grants between $5,000-10,000 to community organizations or parent groups to support new or current efforts that focus on helping pregnant women and families with young children under the age of 3 navigate and enroll in services like child care, home visiting and Early On. Examples include:
- Outreach through non-traditional partners
- Coordinating enrollment in multiple programs simultaneously
- Assisting parents in completing applications to participate in services
- Building on existing navigator efforts
- Other innovative, family-informed strategies
The goal of these projects should be two-fold: 1) Increase enrollment in prenatal-to-three early childhood services and 2) identify solutions and strategies that address known barriers to influence state policy.
Parent groups and community-based organizations that work with BIPOC and rural communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Process:
Interested organizations are asked to complete this brief application. Not yet ready to apply? Click here to view the application questions. Mini grants will be awarded through a review process that includes parent leaders from the Think Babies Michigan coalition. Applications are due by December 1, 2021, and decisions will be made by January 12, 2022. The timeline for projects will be February 1, 2022-August 31, 2022.
Early Childhood Equity:
(from our partners at GroundWork Ohio)
As the goal is to advance policy solutions that strengthen how families learn about and access services during pregnancy and the first three years, selected projects will be asked to participate on bi-monthly calls (3 total) to discuss progress and join one group meeting with other grantees to present and discuss project strategies and outcomes with key stakeholders.
Please contact Alicia Guevara Warren at ECIC with any questions.