8.4 Public-Private Partnerships

Lead Agencies must demonstrate how they encourage partnerships among other public agencies, Tribal organizations, private entities, faith-based organizations, businesses, or organizations that promote business involvement, and/or community-based organizations to leverage existing service delivery (i.e., cooperative agreement among providers to pool resources to pay for shared fixed costs and operation) to leverage existing child care and early education service delivery systems and to increase the supply and quality of child care services for children younger than age 13. 8.4.1 Lead Agency public-private partnerships Identify and describe any public-private partnerships encouraged by the Lead Agency to leverage public and private resources to further the goals of CCDF: DCYF partners with many private organizations, most notably CCA and School’s Out Washington ￿ all on the state level but with substantial presence in communities across the state. The goals and products of coordination with CCA include connecting families to high-quality child care and early learning programs, supporting child care providers who deliver high-quality care, and providing supports for early learning professionals to enrich their expertise. With support from DCYF, School’s Out Washington hosts an annual two-day conference, The Bridge from School to Afterschool and Back, in October. This conference's goals and products are to help schools and afterschool programs work together to support children and youth. Each year, nationally recognized speakers, researchers, and advocates present materials on best practices, cutting-edge information, and useful tools. Participants come from around the country to learn from presenters and to network with others in the field.