Best Starts for Kids is excited to introduce the P-5 Community-Designed Program Development Pilot Workshop Series to support community in building sustainable and new innovative programs that center racial, economic, and geographic equity to promote positive change for babies, children, families, and communities. Best Starts seeks to build upon the creativity and expertise of community to create and deliver innovative community-driven approaches and programs that aim to address community identified service gaps and address disparities deepened by lack of access to responsive services.

Workshop Series Purpose and Context

Through this Participant Application, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) will award up to 12 applicants the opportunity to participate in this capacity building series, which focuses on programs or services that are preparing for or in the early implementation phase of program development.

Throughout the workshop series, participants will have the opportunity to build community with others and access individualized supports through facilitation and resource sharing. In small group settings, participants will be supported to draft materials which will later guide their program. Participants will learn more about approaches such as communicating program activities and outcomes, designing staff training materials, preparing for evaluation, budgeting, and planning for fundraising activities.

Participation in this workshop series will not influence future Best Starts funding decisions. Capacity building will be limited in focus on program development and overall fundraising strategies and does not include other organizational development, infrastructure (like data system development), applying for nonprofit status, etc. For example, fundraising capacity building will focus on strategy and guidance for organizations as they seek ongoing funding from a variety of sources in the future.

Who Should Apply To Participate?

Participation in this workshop series is open to community-based organizations, coalitions and community groups interested in further developing a program to serve families and their children prenatal to five. Small nonprofit, small for-profit, community groups, coalitions, and community-based Black, Indigenous and other Communities of Color-led organizations who meet minimum eligibility are encouraged to submit applications for participation.

If you currently have a Best Starts-funded contract, you may only apply if you seek to develop a non-Best Starts-funded program through this workshop series. If you are interested in further developing a Best Starts-funded program, please access Innovation Supports directly through your Best Starts program manager.

Curriculum & Timeline

Workshop Series Participation
Accepted applicants will:

1. Send a 2-to-4-person program team of participants to attend each workshop throughout the 7-week series;
2. Form a cohort of up to 12 program teams to learn together through actively contributing to small and large group workshop discussions;
3. Engage in dedicated program team time within workshops with a facilitator to draft materials which will later guide your program and fundraising;
4. Complete pilot evaluation activities to provide feedback on the workshop series and other capacity building needs. 

Participation Stipend

In addition to being offered at no cost, accepted applicants can choose to receive a stipend of up to $5,000 in total per participating program team to support participating team’s full participation in the workshop series. Up to 12 stipends are available for each participating program team. Requests for stipends does not reduce or increase an applicant’s chances to be accepted to participate in this opportunity.

Participant Selection Process
Please read the full Participation Application details prior to applying.

*Technical Assistance is available to help you complete this application. See the Best Starts website for a list of TA consultants and their contact information.