Specifications include, but are not limited to: To continue supporting the OEC’s overall child care policy objectives including those outlined in the 2023 Blue Ribbon Panel Child Care Report and ensure consistent and equitable growth amongst SFCCNs, the OEC seeks a contractor to provide leadership in expanding and strengthening the infrastructure of SFCCNs. The Hub will serve as a superstructure over the individual SFCCNs, ensuring smooth operation and alignment between regional SFCCNs, OEC, and external service providers. The Hub will be responsible for sharing and coordinating resources and services with SFCCNs and ensuring SFCCNs understand how resources and services are delivered. The Hub will serve as a liaison between SFCCNs, OEC, and external service providers by facilitating effective communication and collaboration. In addition to overseeing the system, the Hub will provide comprehensive support to the SFCCNs which will in turn support the SFCCN system’s goals of: ● increasing the supply of infant and toddler care, particularly in child care deserts; ● improving the quality of licensed home-based child care; ● supporting providers as they seek national accreditation; ● expanding the child care options available to working families; and ● providing access to professional training, educational credentials, and networking opportunities. C. SCOPE OF SERVICES DESCRIPTION Organizational Expectations The contractor ultimately selected for the Hub role will need to be adaptable, responsive, capable of coordinating multiple stakeholders, fiscally responsible, and strategically aligned to the OEC’s vision for success. The Hub should be willing to continually adjust its programming and processes as the SFCCN system evolves over the course of this threeyear contract. In particular, the OEC is interested in potential respondents with the following qualifications: ● Early Care and Education Expertise - The ideal respondent possesses deep knowledge of early childhood development – including pedagogical, infant, and toddler care practices – and deep understanding of the family child care model. The respondent should also have familiarity with the ecosystem of organizations, governing entities, and funding that supports the field of early childhood education. The ideal respondent would also be knowledgeable of Connecticut’s child care workforce with a focus on FCC and regulatory environment. ● Track Record of Success – The ideal respondent has an organizational history that illustrates its longevity, capacity to manage innovative and complex programmatic initiatives, and track record in the early care and education field. ● Innovation and Change Management – The ideal respondent has the capacity to develop and deliver innovative solutions to sector-wide challenges and to lead a process for facilitating change in the way providers have managed their businesses since their inception. ● Strategic Alignment – The ideal respondent’s organizational mission and direction aligns with the Hub’s proposed function and positionality within Connecticut’s FCC infrastructure. ● Facilitative Leadership – The ideal respondent would be able to exercise facilitative leadership to build robust supports for FCC providers that successfully integrates home-based programs into the state’s larger early care and education system. ● Knowledge of State and Regional Nuances – The ideal respondent has prior knowledge of, or is willing to immerse itself in, Connecticut-wide and region-specific challenges. The ideal respondent would be able to leverage this knowledge to balance regional service adaptations with system-wide goals. ● Organizational Development – The ideal respondent has prior experience supporting capacity building initiatives for other organizations. The respondent ultimately selected as the Hub will be expected to organize a system for identifying professional development needs and providing technical assistance to the SFCCNs to meet the needs of FCC providers. ● Fiscal Management – The ideal respondent possesses sophisticated financial control systems and would be able to manage complex fiscal arrangements. The Hub will be expected to contract directly with SFCCNs. Additionally, the Hub will need to provide regular financial reporting to the OEC.
