The State of Washington, Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) plans to issue a Request for Qualifications and Proposal (RFP) to solicit responses from qualified bidders to develop Crisis Respite capacity in Washington State communities, Tribal Nations, Recognized American Indian Organizations (RAIOs) and Native Serving Organizations through one of the following approaches:

Option 1: Crisis Respite Exploration and Planning: Convene and lead a coalition of community members and leaders, families, family support organizations or professionals, and early learning providers, and other relevant partners to explore prevention crisis-respite-related needs and assets in the community, Tribal Nation, RAIO, or Native Serving Organizations, and develop a plan to meet the identified needs.

Option 2: Crisis Respite Implementation: Implement prevention Crisis Respite services in a community or Tribal Nation with the intention of sustaining services beyond the period that would be supported by a contract that results from this RFP. The Early Learning Capital Readiness Pilot Program is part of the Department of Children, Youth and Families Early Learning Facilities program. The early learning facilities capital readiness pilot program must support no more than 10 licensed early learning providers that will serve children through Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) or through the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) to study the feasibility of expanding, remodeling, purchasing, or constructing early learning facilities and classrooms.

DCYF’s goal is for these services to support family strengthening and prevention of child abuse and neglect.