Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) RFQ Info Session & FAQs

Professionals, trainers, consultants, community educators, technical assistance providers, ESIT providers, etc. who have a passion for sharing knowledge regarding developmental delays or disabilities impacting infants and toddlers, holding racial equity, disability justice, and family centered practices as the foundation for learning opportunities, facilitating multidisciplinary spaces, and engageing in deep learning with others int eh birth to three field to provide virtual and in person learning opportunities to strengthen ESIT providers and community partners in King County, WA. 

The initial application deadline is May 10, 2024 EOB. However, rolling applications are accepted and will be reviewed as needs are identified.

This is dependent on the activity contracted for. Large Group Trainings could require a 3 hour training, while a Community of Practice could be one time per month for a 5 month period with the selected number of hours per session.

We believe in being collaborative throughout this process. We will work closely with our consultants to ensure Best Starts for Kids values and philosophies are embedded in each of the activities available as well as providing needed technical and content supports.

• Birth to Three
• Boyer
• Akin (Childhaven)
• Childstrive
• Children's Therapy Center
• Encompass
• UW Experimental Education Unit
• Hearing, Speech, and Deaf Center
• Listen and Talk
• Kindering
• Northwest Center 
• Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children
• Wonderland

Currently, all of our training are primarily offered remotely, with the hope that we will be able to do some in-person training in the future. Please note that as an applicant, you do not need to be able to hold in-person trainings to qualify.

Best Starts for Kids/WestEd will manage all the logistics as needs arise and matches are identified. Your role will be to focus on content and facilitation.

As part of the coordination of logistics, Best Starts for Kids / WestEd will work closely with the facilitator to identify the dates and times for trainings.

Applicants are asked to apply individually and indicate if they would like to be considered as part of a group.

If you’re qualified and selected to work on a project, we will work together to figure out if the contract and payment will be with you as an individual or through your employer.

Yes! Click here.

We are looking for both ESIT providers and non-ESIT providers that could support the work in different ways. For some of the topics, current ESIT providers might have the most training and expertise. For other topics, others may be a better fit. The focus of all the work projects included in this RFQ is the King County ESIT system, providers, and families.

The answers do not necessarily have to be organized according to the scoring sheet, as long as you make sure your answers as a whole reflect each of the areas we will look at.

Yes, we will be reviewing the applications that are in by May 10th on May 21, 2024. However, if more needs arise, we can review other applications on an as needed basis.

Yes, if you are already qualified, please reach out to Rima Fusisi at bsk-wested@wested.org to indicate you are interested in a specific project.

Please email Rima Fusisi at bsk-wested@wested.org and we will be able to look into it.

Yes, each individual at the agency would have to fill out their own application, and there is no limit on the number of applicants per agency.

There are several steps to this process:

1. The first step is for an individual to apply and be determined qualified, and there is no funding for being determined qualified.
2. The second step is for someone to be identified to work on a specific project. There would be an initial meeting(s) to gauge interest, and discuss rates of pay, time period of work, and likely number of hours.
3. The third step, if all are in agreement with moving forward, would be to develop a contract between WestEd and either the individual or the individual’s agency, and funding would be attached to that contract. 
4. The fourth step is the work on the project beginning, including planning, co-creation, and implementation.

• The amount of time will vary for each project, and will be negotiated between the individual and WestEd if the individual is identified to work on a project. The amount of time can be based on the availability of the consultants/facilitators and if that availability matches the needs of the project.

We have access to the following:

• Existing data that is gathered through the ESIT program data system and from annual parent surveys.
• Data related to Black/African American children and families that may be available in King County and Washington State.
• Data from recent/previous listening sessions and workgroups, shared by Black/African American families.

We anticipate holding additional listening sessions and/or a workgroup with Black/African American families, providers and community members.

It will be group training for interpreters.

We are exploring developing a system of countywide training and mentoring who could help providers across ESIT agencies.

We are looking first for someone to help us determine if one (or more) existing tools will better meet family needs and ESIT program requirements. It’s possible that if there aren’t existing tools that are culturally relevant for King County families, that they would recommend to us that we develop a new tool.

We would love examples of previous projects! If you have links please add them into the application.