2025-26 quality initiatives

thread’s Quality Initiative (QI) program offers early childhood education programs and early educators professional development around a specific early care and learning topic. All QIs involve developing goals that support continuous quality improvement, participation in educational opportunities, technical assistance, and financial assistance or educational materials.

What Quality Initiatives is thread offering this year?

This year, our Newly Licensed Provider, Infant/Toddler, and Accreditation Quality Improvement initiatives will focus on setting program goals and providing training to improve your skills and knowledge. Space is limited, be sure to apply early. Please choose one quality initiative that best meets your needs.

Find more detailed information in the QI summaries below.

Am I eligible to receive a Quality Initiative?

If you are an early childhood education owner or program administrator and active in the Alaska SEED Registry, you may be eligible to apply. Find more detailed information in the individual QI summaries below.

Is thread accepting Quality Initiative applications now?

Applications for thread’s current Quality Initiatives are open from November 24 to December 22, 2025. Review the application deadlines in the at-a-glance QI table in addition to the individual QI summaries.

Quality Initiative applications are accepted based on eligibility, completing applications and adding all required documents, and meeting the intent of the Quality Initiative. Consideration will be given to statewide representation and priority to programs that did not receive a Quality Initiative during the last fiscal year.

If you have questions, please contact us.

Quality Initiatives at-a-Glance

Choose One Quality Initiative That Best Meets Your Needs

  Newly Licensed Provider Infant/Toddler Accreditation Go NAPSACC
  See full QI details See full QI details See full QI details See full QI details
Who should apply? Newly licensed program owners and administrators within their first year of licensing or with a provisional child care license. Child care providers or owners of current or provisionally licensed programs who work with infants and toddlers. Licensed child care programs interested in learning more about the NAEYC or NAFCC accreditation process. Licensed child care programs in Alaska who are current/active in the Alaska SEED Registry. 
Description This Quality Initiative (QI) aims to improve the quality of newly licensed programs through setting SMART goals, engaging in training, participating in cohort and technical assistance support, and an introduction to thread services available to licensed providers. This Quality Initiative (QI) aims to improve the quality of infant and toddler learning environments and interactions through developing SMART goals, targeted training, and technical assistance support. Participants  will receive guidance and resources from thread Specialists. Participants in this Quality Initiative (QI) will explore the accreditation requirements and processes through the NAEYC and NAFCC. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of national best practices in early childhood education and understand how your program can benefit from achieving accreditation. Through this Quality Initiative (QI) you’ll receive technical assistance from thread to plan and support the health, nutrition, and physical activity of the children in your program. 
Financial Grant Family Child Care: $2,200
Child Care Center: $4,400		 Family Child Care: $2,000
Child Care Center: $4,000		 Family Child Care: $700
Child Care Center: $1,400		 $1,250
Application Deadline December 22, 2025 December 22, 2025 December 22, 2025 October 20, 2025
Application Now Open Now Open Now Open Closed
  See full QI details See full QI details See full QI details See full QI details

for NEW BUSINESSES

Newly Licensed Provider

Applications open November 24 – December 22, 2025.

Did you open a newly licensed child care program within the last year? Would you benefit from practice setting professional goals and receiving support in meeting those goals? This Quality Initiative (QI) is intended for individual owners/providers and programs within their first year of licensing or with a provisional child care license. You’ll get the technical assistance and support you need to start off your business on the right foot.

As a participant, you will:

  • Receive an orientation to thread services, available to licensed providers!
  • Access your thread Tools and ProSolutions Training accounts and discover many valuable resources.
  • Meet other newly licensed providers and participate in online meetings of our Newly Licensed Provider Cohort group! (6 hours of Technical Assistance (TA)).
  • Develop SMART goals to improve the quality of your program with your thread Professional Development Specialist partner.
  • Participate in agreed-upon trainings and educational opportunities to meet your SMART goals. (Minimum of 8 hours of training.)
  • Once your goals have been met and training and TA hours are complete, your program will receive a financial award of $2,200 for Family Child Care or $4,400 for Centers.

Eligibility

  • Work for or own a current or provisionally licensed child care program.
  • Current/active in the Alaska SEED Registry. If you are not yet a member, learn how to complete your application here.
  • Participate in a follow-up conversation to ensure that this Quality Initiative meets your program’s goals.
  • Upload a completed IRS Form W9 and your Child Care License with the application.

Requirements After Acceptance

  • Register for thread Tools (one account per program).
  • Activate your ProSolutions training account (membership initiated by thread).
  • Meet with your thread Professional Development Professional partner regularly to create your Quality Improvement plan and related SMART Goals (up to 6 hours of technical assistance).
  • Commit to being responsive to your thread partner and to completing the SMART goals you create together.
  • Complete 8 hours of thread training from a provided menu of trainings, chosen to meet your SMART goals.
  • Complete an evaluation within 30 days of receiving award funds.
Apply Now

for PROGRAMS (ADMINISTRATORS/OWNERS)

Infant and Toddler

Applications open November 24 – December 22, 2025.

This Quality Initiative (QI) focuses on supporting programs to improve the quality of their infant and toddler learning environment and interactions.

As a participant, you will:

  • Receive an orientation to thread services.
  • Access your thread Tools and ProSolutions Training accounts and discover many valuable resources.
  • Develop SMART goals to improve the quality of your program with your thread Professional Development Specialist partner.
  • Complete 4 hours (minimum) of training from a provided menu of topics, chosen to meet your SMART goals.
  • Receive up to 6 hours of Technical Assistance (TA) based on SMART Goals in a cohort setting following a Plan-Do-Reflect process.
  • Once the goals have been met, and training and TA hours are complete, your program will receive a financial award of $2,000 for Family Child Care or $4,000 for Centers to support goal implementation.

Eligibility

  • Work for or own a current or provisionally licensed child care program.
  • Current/active in the Alaska SEED Registry. If you are not yet a member, learn how to complete your application here.
  • Participate in a follow-up conversation to ensure that this Quality Initiative meets your program’s goals.
  • Upload a completed IRS Form W9 and your Child Care License with the application.

Requirements After Acceptance

  • Register for thread Tools (one account per program).
  • Activate your ProSolutions training account (membership initiated by thread).
  • Administrator empowers infant/toddler educator to complete trainings and work on selected goals.
  • Complete 4 hours of training from a provided menu of topics, chosen to meet your SMART goals and participate in at least 6 hours of required technical assistance (Plan-Do-Reflect).
  • Complete an evaluation within 30 days of receiving award funds.
Apply Now

Accreditation

Applications open November 24 – December 22, 2025.

Interested in Achieving National Accreditation for your program? This Quality Initiative (QI) is an opportunity to learn more about the accreditation requirements and the process involved in voluntarily becoming accredited through either the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC). Getting familiar with the accreditation requirements allows you the opportunity to reflect on the quality of your services compared to national practices.

As a participant, you will:

  • Receive an orientation to thread services.
  • Explore the accreditation requirements and process.
  • Complete 4 hours of training through a cohort group.
  • Develop SMART goals to learn and get your program closer to accreditation with your thread Professional Development Specialist partner.
  • Participate in agreed-upon training and educational opportunities.
  • Receive up to 4 hours of Technical Assistance (TA) based on SMART Goals.
  • Once the goals have been met, receive a financial award of $700 for Family Child Care or $1,400 for Centers to support goal implementation.
    • thread recognizes that this investment can be expensive and time consuming. We are actively seeking and advocating for additional funding to support growing child care businesses!

Eligibility

  • Work for or own a current or provisionally licensed child care program.
  • Current/active in the Alaska SEED Registry. If you are not yet a member, learn how to complete your application here.
  • Participate in a follow-up conversation to ensure that this Quality Initiative meets your program’s goals.
  • Upload a completed IRS Form W9 and your Child Care License with the application.

Requirements After Acceptance

  • Register for thread Tools (one account per program).
  • Activate your ProSolutions training account (membership initiated by thread).
  • Complete the self-study.
  • Attend 4 hours of Technical Assistance (Plan-Do-Reflect), divided into 4 cycles (3 required, 1 optional).
  • Complete an evaluation within 30 days of receiving award funds.
Apply Now

Go NAPSACC

Applications are open from October 6 – 20, 2025, while funds are available.

thread, in partnership with The Alaska Department of Health, Physical Activity and Nutrition Unit (DOH PAN), brings you the opportunity to participate in the Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC) program. Through this Quality Initiative (QI) you’ll receive technical assistance from thread to plan and support the health, nutrition, and physical activity of the children in your program.

Priority will be given to facilities that serve rural Alaska, low-income families, and/or children who are Alaska Native.

As a participant, you will:

  • Attend two virtual Go NAPSACC 1-hour sessions for orientation and reflection
  • Explore the Go NAPSACC portal and complete 2 training modules
  • Receive technical assistance (coaching, consultation or mentoring)
  • Receive 10 hours of Alaska SEED approved training credit
  • Receive a financial grant of $1,250 to work towards any physical activity and nutrition goals

Eligibility

  • Current/active in the Alaska SEED Registry
  • Licensed child care program in Alaska
  • Priority will be given to those serving families with low incomes or living in rural communities serving predominately Alaska Native children (one or the other or combination)

Requirements

  • Attend two virtual Go NAPSACC 1-hour sessions for orientation and reflection
  • Complete 1 general module (Child Nutrition, Oral Health, Screen Time, Outdoor Play & Learning and Social Emotional) + 1 priority module like (Breastfeeding & Infant Feeding, Farm to ECE, and Infant and Child Physical Activity) in the Go NAPSACC portal you will also complete a pre-assessment, set goals, and finish with a post-assessment
  • Support goal implementation for up to 10 hours with a thread consultant
  • Submit a completed IRS Form W9 and copy of program childcare license
  • Fill out the QI Evaluation
Application Closed