Name  of  Coalition  and  Agency  submitting  RFP:    Grays  Harbor  Early  Learning  Coalition  (GHEL)  

Name  of  Program  Lead:    Sarah  Livingston                                                                            

Contact  Information  for  Program  Lead:    360-­‐532-­‐1710        817-­‐689-­‐6704    (cell)      

Contact  person  during  award  period  (June  19-­‐30,  2014):    Sarah  Livingston  

Please  be  concise  and  specific  in  your  responses.  Budget  proposal  must  be  attached.  

Who:    

• Describe  your  geographic  area  and  the  specific  population  to  be  served.  (Target  populations  are  low-­‐income  and/or  families  of  color  who  are  currently  un-­‐served  by  a  similar  program  in  your  area.)  

o Our  project  will  serve  communities  in  Grays  Harbor  County.    Grays  Harbor  is  a  large  county  bordered  on  the  east  by  Thurston  and  Mason  counties,  south  by  Lewis  and  Pacific  counties,  and  north  by  Jefferson  County.    The  county  extends  from  Oakville  on  the  east  end  to  Westport  on  the  west  and  north  through  Aberdeen  to  Taholah  and  Lake  Quinault.  

  With  a  county  area  of  1902  square  miles  and  a  persons  per  square  mile  of  38,  the  county  is  highly  rural,     the  semi-­‐urban  area  of  Aberdeen/Hoquiam  serving  as  the  hub  for  employment,  medical  care,  social           services  and  access  to  goods.  

Eighteen  percent  of  the  population  is  living  below  the  poverty  level  according  to  2008-­‐12  projections.    Some  80%  of  the  population  is  white  with  a  population  of  9%  Hispanic  spread  throughout  the  county  and  5%  Native  American  primarily  living  within  reach  of  the  three  tribal  entities  in  the  county,  Chehalis  Tribe,  Shoalwater  Tribe,  and  Quinault  Tribe.    Six  percent  of  the  population  is  under  the  age  of  five  with  21%  under  the  age  of  18.  

Although  85%  of  the  population  over  the  age  of  25  has  a  high  school  education,  only  14%  have  earned  a  Bachelor’s  Degree  or  above.    Education  beyond  high  school  is  exceedingly  limited  in  the  county  with  only  one  community  college  available.    Grays  Harbor’s  poverty  rate  currently  stands  at  17%,  well  above  Washington’s  rate  of  12%.    The  rural  nature  of  the  county  with  services  concentrated  in  Aberdeen  and  unreliable  public  transportation  make  it  difficult  for  families  with  unreliable  transportation  to  access  the  opportunities  that  are  available  .  

o Target  population  

The  Grays  Harbor  Early  Learning  Coalition  is  primarily  targeting  families  who  live  in  the  least  populous  and  least  served  areas  of  the  county.    Our  focus  and  public  awareness  efforts  will  target  younger  parents  who  have  infants  and  toddlers  age  three  or  under.    However,  because  of  the  dearth  of  rural  services,  we  will  not  restrict  our  activities  to  those  families.    Although  our  Early  Head  Start  Program  located  in  Oakville,  our  early  intervention  program  serving  infants  and  toddlers  who  have  disabilities,  our  Head  Start  and  ECEAP  programs,  our  Health  Department  Home  Visitation  programs,  and  our  school  districts  also  serve  this  population,  each  has  specific  criteria  for  eligibility  which  leave  them  with  waiting  lists  of  

unserved  families.    We  hope  to  fill  this  gap  with  our  activities  that  will  take  place  in  a  variety  of  primarily  rural  areas  of  the  county  including  Ocean  Shores,  Amanda  Park,  Westport,  McCleary,  Oakville,  Montesano,  Hoquiam,  and  Pacific  Beach.  

What:    

• Identify  your  Program  Goal/Outcome  to  be  accomplished  with  the  funding.    o Our  desired  outcome  will  be  in  involve  our  target  families  in  engaging  activities  that  enhance  their  

interactions  with  their  children  using  their  new  knowledge  of  Brain  Science  and  the  concepts  of  Love  Talk  Play.    A  secondary  outcome  will  be  families  becoming  aware  of  and  using  the  resources  that  are/will  be  available  in  their  communities  because  of  our  activities.    Finally,  a  tertiary  outcome  will  be  that  participating  families  will  meet  other  families  with  like  interests  and  barriers  to  services  to  form  informal  support  networks.  

• What  Activities  will  you  use  to  accomplish  the  program  goal?  o To  accomplish  our  outcomes,  we  propose  several  related  activities:  

! Using  Love  Talk  Play  and  Brain  Science  materials,  develop  specific  lesson  plans  that  can  be  used  by  county  agencies  and  train  staff  in  these  agencies  to  use  the  materials;  

! Create  Love  Talk  Play  ‘curriculum  boxes’  with  materials  agencies  can  use  to  implement  and  enlist  families  in  learning  the  concepts  of  Love  Talk  Play  and  Brain  Science  to  engage  with  their  children.  

! Work  with  and  support  Youth  Services  librarians  in  county  libraries  to  use  the  materials  to  enhance  their  story  times;  

! Work  with  these  librarians  to  establish  ‘family  nights’  using  the  developed  materials;  ! Use  the  materials  to  provide  outreach,  training  and  support  to  elementary  schools  in  the  county  

for  use  in  their  family  nights,  helping  them  bring  in  the  families  who  have  children  who  are  not  yet  school  age  but  will,  eventually,  be  part  of  their  school;  

! Use  the  materials  to  support  home  visitation  staff  in  their  work  with  groups  of  families  enrolled  in  their  programs;  

! Provide  GHEL  volunteers  to  assist  libraries  and  schools  as  they  incorporate  LTP/Brain  Science  into  their  activities.  

• How  will  you  incorporate  LTP  materials/Brain  Science/Parent-­‐child  engagement  into  your  activities?    o Lesson  plans  and  curriculum  boxes  will  be  built  around  the  concepts  of  Love  Talk  Play  and  the  

information  about  Brain  Science,  with  an  emphasis  on  incorporating  materials  into  the  activities  that  Youth  Services  librarians,  school  personnel,  and  staff  from  agencies  working  with  families  would  typically  be  doing  in  their  family-­‐focused  events  or  programs.    Although  we  have  commitments  from  libraries,  schools,  and  agencies,  ensuring  that  activities  are  not  totally  separate  from  what  might  typically  provided  and  can  be  readily  incorporated  into  existing  activities  will  be  important  in  inspiring  staff  to  participate.  

• How  will  your  activities  increase  the  knowledge  and  understanding  of  the  value  of  play?  o Materials  designed  to  enhance  Love  Talk  Play  and  Brain  Science  will  be  developed  by  GHEL’s  Love  Talk  

Play  sub  committee  with  input  from  other  GHEL  members.    Sub  committee  members  include  a  Youth  Services  librarian  well  versed  in  incorporating  play  activities  into  activities  that  engage  families  in  play  with  their  children;  the  coordinator  of  the  YMCA’s  Care  and  Kids  program  which  engages  families  in  preschool-­‐like  sessions;  a  family  resources  coordinator  with  expertise  in  helping  families  understand  the  value  and  methods  involved  in  ‘play;’  and  two  former  early  intervention  and  preschool  teachers  with  in  excess  of  seventy  years  experience  between  them.    Materials  will  be  targeted  at  group  activities  that  promote  and  model  play  as  a  learning  opportunity.  

How  (What  does  it  look  like?):  Describe  the  format  to  be  used.    

• How  many  times  will  this  activity  occur?  (Must  meet  at  least  six  weeks)  o Because  we  are  not  proposing  a  single  activity  such  as  a  play  group,  we  are  planning  at  least  two  

activities  in  five  libraries  in  the  county  and  one  activity  in  six  elementary  schools.    • How  long  is  each  session?  

o Typically  library  story  times  and  family  nights  are  one  and  one  half  to  two  hours.    Elementary  school  activities  are  similar.  

•  How  will  you  provide  opportunities  for  multiple  interactions  or  ‘touch-­‐points’  with  families?  o Through  sharing  public  awareness  materials  and  activities,  we  plan  to  spark  families’  interests  in  

attending  multiple  activities  in  their  community  and  to  continue  to  be  engaged  with  programs  at  their  local  library  and  elementary  school.    Because  the  activities  will  also  promote  networking  among  families,  we  believe  that  families  will  be  prompted  to  share  ideas  and  resources.    In  addition,  the  materials  will  continue  to  be  available  to  communities  and  agencies  after  the  funding  is  gone.  

• How  will  you  encourage  incorporation  of  new  learning  into  the  daily  lives  of  families?  o Materials,  staff  training,  and  GHEL  support  will  incorporate  the  research  and  evidence-­‐base  regarding  

use  of  family  routines  as  parent/child  engagement  and  teaching  times.    The  methods  promulgated  in  this  research  from  Vanderbilt  University  and  Tennessee’s  Siskin  Center  look  at  using  typical  family  routines  to  engage  children  rather  than  ‘set  aside’  learning/teaching  times  which  may  be  less  motivating  to  busy  families.    The  method  takes  advantage  of  ‘incidental  learning  opportunities’  that  take  place  in  a  typical  day…at  bedtime,  meal  time,  bath  time,  dressing  time,  etc.,  into  which  fun  and  interesting  activities  can  take  place  which  enhance  both  the  bonding  between  parent  and  child  and  the  child’s  learning  of  new  skills  and  concepts.  

Collaborations:    

• Please  identify  your  fiscal  agent  and  provide  a  list  of  partnering  agencies/individuals.  Please  include  a  letter  of  support  from  each  partner  describing  their  involvement.  Identify  potential  resources  for  Program  sustainability.  Clearly  identify  if  two  or  more  entities  are  submitting  a  joint  proposal.  Mini-­‐grant  funds  awarded  will  be  up  to  but  no  more  than  $2,000.  

o Our  fiscal  agent  will  be  Washington  State  University’s  Grays  Harbor  County  Extension  Service.  o Partners  will  be:  

! Timberland  libraries  in  at  least  five  communities;  ! Elementary  schools  in  six  communities  (including  communities  where  libraries  are  participating;)  ! Grays  Harbor  County  Health  Department’s  Home  Visitation  Program.  ! Grays  Harbor  YMCA  

When:    

• Provide  a  timeline  for  program  implementation.  (i.e.  six  sessions  between  September  and  December  31,  2014.)  

ACTIVITY   JULY   AUGUST   SEPTEMBER   OCTOBER   NOVEMBER   DECEMBER  Develop  curriculum  boxes  and  lesson  plans  

           

Provide  orientation  and  training  for  librarians  and  school  staff  

           

Schedule  activities  with  librarians  and  schools  

           

Implement  activities                Evaluate  activities    

           

 

Proposals  must  be  submitted  via  email  by  4:30  p.m.  May  30,  2014  to  be  considered  for  funding.  A  confirmation  email  will  be  sent  when  the  proposal  is  received.  Notifications  of  award  will  be  sent  by  June  30,  2014.  Funds  must  be  expended  and  invoices/receipts  submitted  by  your  fiscal  agent  by  November  28,  2014.  

Budget  Template  is  attached.    Provide  a  narrative/justification  of  the  budget  expenses.    For  example,  for  personnel,  provide  rate  of  pay  and  #  of  hours.    Provide  percentage  of  fringe  benefits.  

Love  Talk  Play  Program  Budget            

Line Item Request Amount

Other Funding

Source of Other Funding

Total Budget Budget Justification

A. Personnel/Benefits No new personnel will be required B. Materials

Children’s books for curriculum boxes $350 $100 10 books x 3 boxes

Consumable supplies for curriculum boxes $350 $100

CMG $ to counties

$150 per box (3) with funds for replenishment as materials are used

Food for library family nights $250 $50 per library (schools will provide own food)

Discretionary materials for librarians and schools $500 $300

CMG $ to counties

$100 per library and $50 to schools to personalize activities

C. Professional Development

Food for librarian and school orientation $150

$10 per person estimating 15 attendees (including participating committee members)

Materials for orientation $25 Including copying of lesson plans and other training materials for distribution

D. Travel

Mileage for Committee members to support library and school activities $275

One trip to each initial activity (estimating 11 trips) averaging 50 miles per round trip at $00.50 per mile

E.

Indirect ** (Please indicate % if applicable)

Washington State University Grays Harbor Extension Office $100

Indirect rate at .05%

Total Love. Talk. Play (Not to exceed $2,000) $2000 $500  

From: Doreen Wilsdon dwilsdon@hoquiam.netSubject: Re: Grays Harbor Early Learning Coalition (GHEL) and Love Talk Play

Date: May 26, 2014 at 4:09 PMTo: Mary Perkins mperkins1912@comcast.net

Hi Mary,

Thanks for your email about this wonderful opportunity! Yes, please add us to your list of interested participants for the fall. :)

Sincerely,

Doreen Wilsdon, PrincipalLincoln Elementary SchoolHoquiam, WA

Sent via Verizon Wireless

On May 23, 2014 10:16 AM, "Mary Perkins" <mperkins1912@comcast.net> wrote:

Dear%Ms%Wilsdon;

The%Grays%Harbor%Early%Learning%Coali9on%is%applying%for%a%small%grant%from%the%regional%early%learningcoali9on%and%Thrive%by%Five%to%plan%and%implement%ac9vi9es%around%their%Love%Talk%Play%and%brain%sciencematerials.%%We've%chosen%to%develop%ac9vi9es%using%these%materials,%which%focus%on%helping%parents%haveposi9ve%aHachment%and%learning%ac9vi9es%with%their%infants,%toddlers%and%preschoolers.%%These%ac9vi9es%andmaterials%will%be%used%to%enhance%story%9mes%and%family%nights%in%the%libraries%in%Grays%Harbor%County.%%GHELmembers%will%be%assis9ng%youth%services%librarians%in%using%the%materials.

Once%the%materials%are%developed%we%are%hoping%that%they%could%also%be%used%to%enhance%family%ac9vi9es%atelementary%schools%in%the%county.%%Again,%GHEL%volunteers%would%be%available%to%work%with%elementary%staffto%provide%Love%Talk%Play%ac9vi9es%at%your%events%at%no%charge%to%you.%%We%believe%that%having%these%materialsand%ac9vi9es%available%has%the%poten9al%to%engage%families%whose%children%are%not%yet%in%school%but%who%maybenefit%from%the%ac9vi9es%that%will%enhance%their%school%readiness.%%If%we%are%funded,%ac9vi9es%would%takeplace%in%the%fall%of%2014.

If%you%are%interested%in%par9cipa9ng%with%GHEL%in%this%ac9vity%we%would%appreciate%a%return%eRmail%sta9ngyour%interest%so%that%we%might%include%it%with%our%grant%applica9on.%%If%you%are%interested%in%more%informa9onabout%Love%Talk%Play,%you%can%go%to%Thrive%by%Five's%websiteat%hHp://thrivebyfivewa.org/engagement/communityRresources/%.

Thank%you%in%advance%for%your%support.%%We%look%forward%to%working%with%you.

Mary%PerkinsSecretary,%Grays%Harbor%Early%Learning%Coali9onmperkins1912@comcast.net360R943R6740

From: Rhonda Ham rskolrood@northbeachschools.orgSubject: Re: Grays Harbor Early Learning Coalition (GHEL) and Love Talk Play

Date: May 26, 2014 at 8:38 PMTo: Mary Perkins mperkins1912@comcast.net

Yes Mary I am interested. Sounds interesting and helpful to families and kids. Thanks for including us

On May 23, 2014 10:16 AM, "Mary Perkins" <mperkins1912@comcast.net> wrote:

Dear%Ms%Ham;

The%Grays%Harbor%Early%Learning%Coali8on%is%applying%for%a%small%grant%from%the%regional%early%learningcoali8on%and%Thrive%by%Five%to%plan%and%implement%ac8vi8es%around%their%Love%Talk%Play%and%brain%sciencematerials.%%We've%chosen%to%develop%ac8vi8es%using%these%materials,%which%focus%on%helping%parents%haveposi8ve%aHachment%and%learning%ac8vi8es%with%their%infants,%toddlers%and%preschoolers.%%These%ac8vi8es%andmaterials%will%be%used%to%enhance%story%8mes%and%family%nights%in%the%libraries%in%Grays%Harbor%County.%%GHELmembers%will%be%assis8ng%youth%services%librarians%in%using%the%materials.

Once%the%materials%are%developed%we%are%hoping%that%they%could%also%be%used%to%enhance%family%ac8vi8es%atelementary%schools%in%the%county.%%Again,%GHEL%volunteers%would%be%available%to%work%with%elementary%staffto%provide%Love%Talk%Play%ac8vi8es%at%your%events%at%no%charge%to%you.%%We%believe%that%having%these%materialsand%ac8vi8es%available%has%the%poten8al%to%engage%families%whose%children%are%not%yet%in%school%but%who%maybenefit%from%the%ac8vi8es%that%will%enhance%their%school%readiness.%%If%we%are%funded,%ac8vi8es%would%takeplace%in%the%fall%of%2014.

If%you%are%interested%in%par8cipa8ng%with%GHEL%in%this%ac8vity%we%would%appreciate%a%return%eRmail%sta8ngyour%interest%so%that%we%might%include%it%with%our%grant%applica8on.%%If%you%are%interested%in%more%informa8onabout%Love%Talk%Play,%you%can%go%to%Thrive%by%Five's%websiteat%hHp://thrivebyfivewa.org/engagement/communityRresources/%.

Thank%you%in%advance%for%your%support.%%We%look%forward%to%working%with%you.

Mary%PerkinsSecretary,%Grays%Harbor%Early%Learning%Coali8onmperkins1912@comcast.net360R943R6740

From: Dan Casler dcasler@mccleary.wednet.eduSubject: Re: Grays Harbor Early Learning Coalition (GHEL) and Love Talk Play

Date: May 29, 2014 at 6:30 AMTo: Mary Perkins mperkins1912@comcast.net, Mindy Geer mgeer@mccleary.wednet.edu, Tita Mallory

tmallory@mccleary.wednet.edu

Dear Mary,

Thanks so much for including McCleary as a site and prospect again for Love Talk Play. I have briefed our new superintendent, Tita Mallory,and we are both in agreement that McCleary would love to be a host and part of your program for next year. In terms of any information forwriting a grant, if there are specific pieces of information needed just let me know. In terms of our interest, however, we are certainly a go-ahead.

Thanks again for your support, our families will truly appreciate the service and ideas to better help them serve our youngest learners. Takecare.

On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 10:20 AM, Mary Perkins <mperkins1912@comcast.net> wrote:

Dear%Mr.%Casler;

The%Grays%Harbor%Early%Learning%Coali8on%is%applying%for%a%small%grant%from%the%regional%early%learningcoali8on%and%Thrive%by%Five%to%plan%and%implement%ac8vi8es%around%their%Love%Talk%Play%and%brain%sciencematerials.%%We've%chosen%to%develop%ac8vi8es%using%these%materials,%which%focus%on%helping%parents%haveposi8ve%aHachment%and%learning%ac8vi8es%with%their%infants,%toddlers%and%preschoolers.%%These%ac8vi8es%andmaterials%will%be%used%to%enhance%story%8mes%and%family%nights%in%the%libraries%in%Grays%Harbor%County.%%GHELmembers%will%be%assis8ng%youth%services%librarians%in%using%the%materials.

Once%the%materials%are%developed%we%are%hoping%that%they%could%also%be%used%to%enhance%family%ac8vi8es%atelementary%schools%in%the%county.%%Again,%GHEL%volunteers%would%be%available%to%work%with%elementary%staffto%provide%Love%Talk%Play%ac8vi8es%at%your%events%at%no%charge%to%you.%%We%believe%that%having%these%materialsand%ac8vi8es%available%has%the%poten8al%to%engage%families%whose%children%are%not%yet%in%school%but%who%maybenefit%from%the%ac8vi8es%that%will%enhance%their%school%readiness.%%If%we%are%funded,%ac8vi8es%would%takeplace%in%the%fall%of%2014.

If%you%are%interested%in%par8cipa8ng%with%GHEL%in%this%ac8vity%we%would%appreciate%a%return%eRmail%sta8ngyour%interest%so%that%we%might%include%it%with%our%grant%applica8on.%%If%you%are%interested%in%more%informa8onabout%Love%Talk%Play,%you%can%go%to%Thrive%by%Five's%websiteat%hHp://thrivebyfivewa.org/engagement/communityRresources/%.

Thank%you%in%advance%for%your%support.%%We%look%forward%to%working%with%you.

Mary%PerkinsSecretary,%Grays%Harbor%Early%Learning%Coali8onmperkins1912@comcast.net

From: Mary Perkins mperkins1912@comcast.netSubject: Re: Letter of support from YMCA

Date: May 29, 2014 at 11:56 PMTo: Mary Perkins mperkins1912@comcast.net

On 5/29/14 7:59 AM, "mminato@ghymca.net" <mminato@ghymca.net> wrote:

Hi Mary,

Care & Kids is fully on board to help with this project and willsupport in any way we can. We are more than happy as facilitators forthe program to learn more about the Love Talk Play program and toregularly include the materials and mission within our program.

Also, in the fall Care & Kids would be more than happy to host its ownfamily night to talk about Love Talk Play since we already try to do oneor two family nights a year anyways. :)

Thanks,Melissa Minato

From: Suzanne Chapin schapin@ocosta.orgSubject: Letter of support

Date: May 29, 2014 at 8:04 PMTo: Mary Perkins mperkins1912@comcast.net

The Ocosta School District in Westport is excited to participate in the Love Talk Play and Brain Science activities that will be provided at oursites to enhance the activities we plan and sponsor for families throughout the school year. Our school serves a highly rural population withlimited access to information about parenting, particularly for those whose children have not yet entered our school system. By collaboratingwith the Grays Harbor Early Learning Coalition and with Grays Harbor's Timberland Libraries, we hope to help families parenting our youngestchildren to enhance their skills as they interact with and lay the foundations for their children's success in school.

Sent from Suzanne's iPhone

Ocean  Shores  Elementary  300  Mount  Olympus  Ave.  SE  Ocean  Shores,  WA    98569  

360-­‐289-­‐2147      

May  30,  2014    

 Ocean  Shores  Elementary  School  of  the  North  Beach  School  District  #64  in  Ocean  Shores,  WA  is  excited  to  participate  in  the  Love  Talk  Play  and  Brain  Science  activities  that  will  be  provided  at  our  sites  to  enhance  the  activities  we  plan  and  sponsor  for  families  throughout  the  school  year.    Our  school  serves  a  highly  rural  population  with  limited  access  to  information  about  parenting,  particularly  for  those  whose  children  have  not  yet  entered  our  school  system.    By  collaborating  with  the  Grays  Harbor  Early  Learning  Coalition  and  with  Grays  Harbor's  Timberland  Libraries,  we  hope  to  help  families  parenting  our  youngest  children  to  enhance  their  skills  as  they  interact  with  and  lay  the  foundations  for  their  children's  success  in  school.    Sincerely,      Rhonda  Ham  Principal  Ocean  Shores  Elementary  School  

May 29, 2014 To Whom It May Concern: The Hoquiam Timberland Library in Hoquiam, WA is very excited to participate in the Love Talk Play activities that will be hosted at our library this fall to enhance the activities we plan and sponsor for families! Our library serves a largely rural, lower income population with limited access to information about parenting, particularly for those whose children have not yet entered our school system. By collaborating with the Grays Harbor Early Learning Coalition and with other Grays Harbor's Timberland Libraries, we hope to help families parenting our youngest children to enhance their skills as they interact with and lay the foundations for their children's success in school. We also see this partnership as an excellent opportunity to share information about all the other wonderful programs and organizations that participate in the Grays Harbor Early Learning Coalition with our families! Sincerely, Sarah Livingston Youth Services Librarian Hoquiam Timberland Library 420 7th St. Hoquiam, WA 98550 360-532-1710