Ready by Five Funding

First Steps Kent invites agencies and programs interested in applying for the Request for Proposal (RFP), set to be released in Spring 2025 to meet with our team.

What does the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage fund?

The Ready by Five Millage funds various programs that serve expectant parents and children through the age of five who live in Kent County. Programs fall into four key areas:

    • Healthy Development - Healthy Development programs focus on improving the lives of families in Kent County through healthier pregnancies and births, overall child health and well-being, and ensuring children are developmentally on track.
    • Outreach & Navigation - Ready by Five millage funding has allowed for the creation of an Outreach and Navigation network by developing a multi-agency strategy to reach and engage families in a coordinated way. Outreach aims to increase the usage of early childhood programs and community resources by engaging future parents and families with young children who are not currently involved or aware of available services. As needs are identified, navigation helps address barriers to accessing services, information, and resources.
    • Early Learning - High-quality early learning experiences nurture a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. Programs in this area ensure all children have access to quality learning opportunities and to build literacy and language skills. Multiple programs are offered to ensure groups are available to families living in all areas of Kent County.
    • Parent Education & Support - Parent Education and Support programming ensures parents have the knowledge and skills to support their children’s health, development, and learning. Services provide in-home and/or community-based support and education. Programs offer parent education through home visiting as well as ancillary support that addresses the preventable causes of infant and child mortality.

To see the currently funded programs and services, click here.

Who can apply for funding?

Agencies may apply for funding during the annual RFP process.

First Steps Kent requests that all agencies not currently funded and are interested in learning more about the process of applying for funds set up a time to meet with First Steps Kent before the RFP release date.

When we meet, our team will provide information about Ready by Five millage reporting requirements and the application process. We can also answer questions about your potential program and how it could fit into the specifications funded by Ready by Five. To schedule a time, please reach out to one of our Ready by Five Funding Administrators, Elyse Greene or Kiana Zaderej.

The next RFP will be released in Spring 2025. Once the RFP is released, our team will only respond to questions submitted in writing and are required to post all responses online. For this reason, please reach out before March 1, 2025, to schedule a time.

Where can I find more information?

Keep checking! Further updates on the 2025 funding process will be available here. All funded partner requirements can be found in the Ready by Five Service Provider Manual.

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