First 5 Sacramento Developmental Playgroups for Children with Exceptional Needs

Overview : First 5 Sacramento centered parent and caregiver voices in the development of our 2024-27 Strategic and Implementation Plans. Through surveys and focus groups, parents told us that developmental playgroups specifically designed for children with exceptional needs and their parents / caregivers was a top desire. They also requested that playgroup leaders have expertise in working with young children with exceptional needs An environmental scan of programs available in Sacramento County showed that no such in-person opportunities currently exist. Parents of children with exceptional needs told us that they had often experienced reaching out to a program to ascertain if the needs of their children could be accommodated and hearing that they were welcome. However, upon arrival, they would discover that the leader had no expertise in working with children like theirs. The playgroup leaders were unable to integrate these children into the activities or to help typically developing children and their families welcome and interact with them. Parents of children with exceptional needs told us they would like to have an opportunity to experience group interactions with their children designed specifically for them. They also told us they would like the opportunity to connect with other families raising children with exceptional needs. Focus of Funding: Priority: Health and Wellbeing Strategy: Developmental Playgroups for Children with Exceptional Needs Primary Population: Children ages 0 – 5 years who have exceptional needs and their parents / caregivers who reside in Sacramento County. Exceptional needs may include (but are not limited to) developmental delays or disabilities, motor delays or disabilities, communication delays or disabilities, hearing impairment, vision impairment, autism spectrum disorders, chronic or terminal illnesses, etc., that limit their participation and/or activities in early childhood settings. Note that children are not required to have an active IFSP or IEP in order to participate in these playgroups; participation will be at the discretion of the grantee(s). Requirements: For the purposes of this RFP, we are looking for programs that utilize best and promising practices, are located within the community, and work directly in the community, to provide developmental playgroups in community settings for children with exceptional needs ages 0 – 5 and their parents / caregivers. These will be designed with the needs of young, medically, physically and neurologically diverse children centered and will be led by adults with expertise in working with children with exceptional needs and their families. Please see the RFP Specifications Sheet in the Attachments section for complete details about this funding opportunity.