Community Strengthening

Mini-Grants

Community Services Directory

The commission will take the lead in promoting systems change in the 2006-2011 Strategic Plan through planning and evaluation.  The Strategic Plan provides a framework for decision making in both early childhood programs and service delivery.  Evaluation of the programs and systems funded by the commission will provide valuable information to be considered in annual program planning and funding.   Community leadership is essential in ongoing program development and will be promoted through Community Service Directories, Mini-Grants, and Community Strengthening.

Community Services Directory – The focus of this objective is to maintain support for the publication and distribution of the El Dorado Community Services Directory both in hard copy and electronic format through the Internet so that service providers and clients have an easily accessible, up-to-date guide to utilize in referring clients to essential services in our county.
The El Dorado County Community Services Directory is a resource for service providers working with children and families.  The Directory is managed and monitored by commission staff allowing for opportunities to expand and update information. Copies are available in both English and Spanish.
This strategy seeks to define target populations for usage, estimate the number of directories needed, and develop a corresponding distribution plan.

Mini Grants – Mini Grant funding will be allocated for the purposes of improving the health of children, family functioning, and children’s readiness for school.
Mini Grants provide an opportunity for community, public and private agencies, and groups and individuals to collaborate with the commission to support their mission. Through mini grant funding, the commission identifies areas of community need, new partners, and innovative program applications related to the Strategic Plan. 

The objective of Mini-Grant funding is used to support one time, short-term funding opportunities that encourage innovative approaches to support the three result areas of the Strategic Plan.

Community Strengthening– Collaborative partnerships will promote awareness on specific early childhood topics and the importance of early childhood development in their community.

Collaborative partnerships in communities will develop local leadership and strengthen community collaboration through the assessment of local data.  These partnerships will provide recommendations to promote positive early childhood practices, develop local media campaigns, and share information with parents through community fairs and forums.  Local assessments will assist the commission in reviewing local policies and practices in the systems serving young children and their families.   These partnerships are essential in gathering information to promote long-term, program sustainability while avoiding duplication of services. 

The expected outcome of the Community Strengthening objective is to support collaborative partnerships to promote local infrastructure and sustainability.