The First 5 years.
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FIRST 5
SANTA CLARA COU NTY

January 30, 2006
Dear Colleagues,
On January 26, 2006, members of my management team and I met with Patricia
Gardner, Executive Director of Silicon Valley Non-Profits, and we have met with
other agencies, to listen to concerns brought forth regarding the Community
Partnerships and Full Service Demonstration Sites RFQ. As we have stated from the
beginning, FIRST 5 is committed to supporting our partners throughout the RFQ
application process. So when concerns or issues surface, our role is to listen,
discuss and provide clarification, with the hope that clarity will be of assistance as
you prepare the RFQ application. The following information is provided to respond to
your concerns with the hope of providing greater clarity as we move forward in our
RFQ process.
Matching Funds Requirement. FIRST 5 is requiring the matching funds to ensure
our goal of sustainability is achieved. However, we are willing to take into
consideration applicants' demonstrated efforts to explore any and all potential
matches.
Partnership Applications. FIRST 5 is encouraging Partnership applications, and
understands that these applications require more planning and interagency
discussion and agreements. Fl RST 5 will respect and honor Partnership applications
and their proposed membership. If the Review Panel determines that a Partnership
application is missing a quality core service category, based on community needs, or
recommends enhancement to a proposed Network of Services, FIRST 5 would enter
into discussion with the Partnership's Lead Agency regarding how best to address
this need, including reasonable funding and service considerations.
Amount of funds estimated per service category on Addendum 2 and
anticipated number of children to be served on Addendum 3 of the RFQ. As
noted on Addendum 2 and Addendum 3 of the RFQ, the amounts of funding and
numbers of children targeted to serve are planning estimates. Applicants should
propose the amounts necessary to perform the appropriate services. The amount of
funding and number of children to be served is negotiable.
Can an agency that is not part of a Partnership Application apply to provide
services? Yes, as long as the agency had submitted a Letter of Intent on time. We
have always encouraged agencies to build upon existing FIRST 5 Partnerships that
have been funded over the past 4 and half years; however, if an agency is not
applying through a Partnership Application, but wants to provide one of the service

categories, we encourage the agency to become a single qualified service
provider. Please see page 25 of the RFQ under Service Categories for further
explanation.
Reimbursement for Partnership members' time commitment during the
Planning and Development Phase of April 06-June 06.
It has been Fl RST 5's intention to honor and respect the time of the selected funded
applicants to develop the implementation and service delivery plans. As
stated in the RFQ, page 34, FIRST 5 is working to develop our Community of
Learning Institute. It is the hope that all funded partners will benefit from the learning
and implementation planning time this Institute will offer. Our funded partners who
attend and participate in this important aspect of the RFQ will be compensated for
their planning time.

In addition, Partnership members who are coming to the table to offer their services
to children as part of the Network of Services (non-funded agencies and interested
community members) will be offered training opportunities, and FIRST 5 will
consider some form of compensation for their participation in the Partnership.
Finally, we are aware partnership development takes time and committed energy.
We applaud your efforts and willingness to work together to develop and provide a
network of services, and support focusing on our youngest children and their
families. We are aware of the time you have invested in creating a vibrant network of
services. It is because of our recognition of the time and effort you have dedicated
to this complex process that FIRST 5 is dedicated to provide as much support as we
possibly can to ensure our partnerships launch successfully. This RFQ is the next
generation of funding the Commission has committed to increase our broad, longterm community effort to make certain that the developmental needs of children
through age 5 are met.
Respectfully,

Jolene Smith, Executive Director
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County

The First 5 years.
f\'!-a}{e t}ien·~ ct;~)r. ·'

FIRST 5

SANTA CLARA COUNTY

January 30, 2006
Dear Colleagues,
On January 26, 2006, members of my management team and I met with Patricia
Gardner, Executive Director of Silicon Valley Non-Profits, and we have met with
other agencies, to listen to concerns brought forth regarding the Community
Partnerships and Full Service Demonstration Sites RFQ. As we have stated from the
beginning, FIRST 5 is committed to supporting our partners throughout the RFQ
application process. So when concerns or issues surface, our role is to listen,
discuss and provide clarification, with the hope that clarity will be of assistance as
you prepare the RFQ application. The following information is provided to respond to
your concerns with the hope of providing greater clarity as we move forward in our
RFQ process.

Matching Funds Requirement. FIRST 5 is requiring the matching funds to ensure
our goal of sustainability is achieved. However, we are willing to take into
consideration applicants' demonstrated efforts to explore any and all potential
matches.
Partnership Applications. FIRST 5 is encouraging Partnership applications, and
understands that these applications require more planning and interagency
discussion and agreements. FIRST 5 will respect and honor Partnership applications
and their proposed membership. If the Review Panel determines that a Partnership
application is missing a quality core service category, based on community needs, or
recommends enhancement to a proposed Network of Services, FIRST 5 would enter
into discussion with the Partnership's Lead Agency regarding how best to address
this need, including reasonable funding and service considerations.
Amount of funds estimated per service category on Addendum 2 and
anticipated number of children to be served on Addendum 3 of the RFQ. As
noted on Addendum 2 and Addendum 3 of the RFQ, the amounts of funding and
numbers of children targeted to serve are planning estimates. Applicants should
propose the amounts necessary to perform the appropriate services. The amount of
funding and number of children to be served is negotiable.
Can an agency that is not part of a Partnership Application apply to provide
services? Yes, as long as the agency had submitted a Letter of Intent on time. We
have always encouraged agencies to build upon existing FIRST 5 Partnerships that
have been funded over the past 4 and half years; however, if an agency is not
applying through a Partnership Application, but wants to provide one of the service

categories, we encourage the agency to become a single qualified service
provider. Please see page 25 of the RFQ under Service Categories for further
explanation.
Reimbursement for Partnership members' time commitment during the
Planning and Development Phase of April 06-June 06.
It has been Fl RST 5's intention to honor and respect the time of the selected funded
applicants to develop the implementation and service delivery plans. As
stated in the RFQ, page 34, FIRST 5 is working to develop our Community of
Learning Institute. It is the hope that all funded partners will benefit from the learning
and implementation planning time this Institute will offer. Our funded partners who
attend and participate in this important aspect of the RFQ will be compensated for
their planning time.

In addition, Partnership members who are coming to the table to offer their services
to children as part of the Network of Services (non-funded agencies and interested
community members) will be offered training opportunities, and FIRST 5 will
consider some form of compensation for their participation in the Partnership.
Finally, we are aware partnership development takes time and committed energy.
We applaud your efforts and willingness to work together to develop and provide a
network of services, and support focusing on our youngest children and their
families. We are aware of the time you have invested in creating a vibrant network of
services. It is because of our recognition of the time and effort you have dedicated
to this complex process that FIRST 5 is dedicated to provide as much support as we
possibly can to ensure our partnerships launch successfully. This RFQ is the next
generation of funding the Commi~sion has committed to increase our broad, longterm community effort to make certain that the developmental needs of children
through age 5 are met.
Respectfully,

Jolene Smith, Executive Director
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County

"Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto"
<naomin@cupertinocommunit
yservices.org>
02/03/2006 08:54 AM
Please respond to
<naomin@cupertinocommunity
services.org>

To <Sunshine.Borelli@bos.co.santa-clara.ca.us>
cc
bee
Subject FW: SVCN LETTER REGARDING FIRST 5 and ACTION
REQUEST

Naomi N. Nakano-Matsumoto, LCSW
Executive Director
Cupertino Community Services, Inc.
10104 Vista Drive
Cupertino, CA 95014
408.255.8033 ext. 301
naomin@cupertinocommunityservices.org
Cupertino Community Services
"PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE"
www.cupertinocommunityservices.org
-----Original Message----From: Patricia Gardner [mailto:patriciag@svcn .org]
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 11:34 AM
Subject: SVCN LITTER REGARDING FIRST 5 and ACTION REQUEST

SVCN
February 1, 2006
Memo to SYCN Agencies and those nonprofits it the First 5 system of care
Over the last couple of months we have become keenly aware of agency concerns regarding the FIRST 5 RFQ
application and process. Over 30 nonprofits have contacted SVCN either through lengthy emails, (actually essays not
just emails) phone calls or meetings to discuss problems you all are encountering in the FIRST 5 funding process.
The issues have been emotionally charged and filled with frustration by agencies trying to figure out, interpret and
meet the requirements of the RFQ to serve the targeted population of children and their families.
SVCN has met with Jolene and key management staff to discuss our concerns and to seek quick resolution to some
of the overriding nonprofit issues. FIRST 5 staff have listened, responded and worked with us, thoughtfully as we
have ti-ied to clarify, simplify, working tlu·ough this RFQ processes.
SVCN is very serious about the problems faced by our nonprofit community in this RFQ process. We will be