2023-24 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.
What Quality Initiatives is thread offering this year?
thread is excited to offer the following QIs:
- For new child care businesses: New/Startup Licensed Child Care
- For licensed child care programs: Infant and Toddler, Accreditation, and Reimagine Your Outdoor Environment
Find more detailed information in the QI summaries below.
Am I eligible to receive a Quality Initiative?
If you are an early childhood education new/existing owner, 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 under eligibility requirements.
Is thread accepting Quality Initiative applications now?
Yes! thread is now accepting applications for Quality Initiatives being offered this year. Review the application deadlines in the at-a-glance QI table in addition to the individual QI summary.
Quality Initiative applications are accepted based on eligibility, meeting the intent of the Quality Initiative, and a short interview while funding allows. Consideration will be given to statewide representation and priority to programs that did not receive a Quality Initiative during the last two fiscal years.
There will be a second application period for Quality Initiatives in the first quarter of 2024.
Question & Answer Session
thread hosted a FY24 Quality Initiative Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Session on Thursday, September 28. You can watch the recorded session by clicking the link below. The session provided information about eligibility, how to apply and the selection process.
If you have specific questions, please contact pds@threadalaska.org.
Quality Initiatives at-a-Glance
| New/Startup Licensed Child Care Program | Accreditation | |
|---|---|---|
| See full QI details | See full QI details | |
| Who should apply? | New/Startup Program Owners/Administrators | Programs interested in learning more about the NAEYC or NAFCC accreditation process |
| Description | Starting up? Get assistance with your program start up activities and licensing process. | Learn about NAEYC and NAFCC accreditation process and explore how your program could benefit |
| Financial Grant | $2,000 – $10,000 | $250 |
| Application Deadline | March 31, 2024 | October 13, 2023 |
| Application | Open | Closed |
Quality Initiatives at-a-Glance continued
| Reimagine Your Outdoor Environment | Infant and Toddler | |
|---|---|---|
| See full QI details | See full QI details | |
| Who Should Apply? | Programs interested in evaluating their outdoor learning environment and increasing the natural play elements within. | Programs – Program Owners & Administrators |
| Description | Learn about ways to incorporate natural play elements, embrace risky play, and ensure staff are comfortable playing outdoors with kids. | Improve the quality of your infant/toddler learning environment and interactions. |
| Financial Grant | $2,000 | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| Application Deadline | October 13, 2023 | October 13, 2023 |
| Application | Closed | Closed |
for NEW BUSINESSES
New/Startup Licensed Child Care Program
Application open through March 31, 2024 while spaces are available.
Now is the time to open or license your child care business as the demand for quality child care is growing! This Quality Initiative (QI) is intended for individual owners/providers and programs in the first year of licensing (with provisional licensing status) or working on getting licensed with a pending application. You’ll get the technical assistance you need to achieve licensing and start off your business on the right foot.
As a participant, you will receive:
- Orientation to thread services
- Access to thread Tools providing all the resources you need in one place
- Professional development opportunities
- Technical assistance surrounding your goals for your program
- Financial grant to your program between $2,000-$10,000 (amount dependent on need and availability)
Eligibility
- Current/active Alaska SEED Registry
- Submit a completed Initial Licensing Application (State of Alaska or Municipality of Anchorage) or currently hold a valid Provisional Child Care license
Requirements
- Sign up for thread Tools
- Take 8 hours of thread training from a provided menu of trainings
- Receive up to 4 hours of technical assistance to complete any licensing requirements and develop a project proposal for funding
- Submit a completed IRS Form W9 with application
- Submit grant reporting within 90 days after receiving award funds
for PROGRAMS (ADMINISTRATORS/OWNERS)
Infant and Toddler
Application open through Oct 13, 2023 while spaces are available.
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 valuable professional development surrounding infants and toddlers
- Access to thread Tools with many valuable resources
- Receive technical assistance to improve your infant and toddler classroom
- Financial grant of $1,000 – $2,000 to work on your goals for your infant and toddler classroom
Eligibility
- Current/active Alaska SEED Registry
- Licensed child care program in Alaska
Requirements
- Register for thread Tools
- Administrator empowers infant/toddler educator to complete training and work on selected goals
- Attend one of the following Infant and Toddler specific trainings (6-8 hours total):
- Infant and Toddler Symposium, Kindle the Flame- In Your Heart and Theirs: An inspirational day to reignite your love for childcare and create joy in your program and classrooms. Sessions will cover literacy, music, bravery in teaching, and time to reconnect with fellow educators. Three symposiums will be offered.
- Saturday, November 11 at UAA, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (in-person)
- Date: TBD at UAF, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Hybrid)
- A third option will be available, date and time to be determined.
- Babydoll Circle Time: Asynchronous via the Conscious Discipline website.
- Unpacking BDCT: Utilize the skills learned in the asynchronous BDCT training (via the conscious discipline website) and develop a plan to implement, reflect, and receive feedback from peers and thread specialists to strengthen your practice. You must complete all three sessions to receive training credit. Sessions are from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. on:
- February 20
- March 5
- March 19
- Infant and Toddler Symposium, Kindle the Flame- In Your Heart and Theirs: An inspirational day to reignite your love for childcare and create joy in your program and classrooms. Sessions will cover literacy, music, bravery in teaching, and time to reconnect with fellow educators. Three symposiums will be offered.
- Submit a completed IRS Form W9 with application
- Submit grant reporting within 90 days after receiving award funds
Accreditation
Application open through Oct 13, 2023 while funds are available.
Interested in your program achieving national accreditation? This Quality Initiative (QI) is an opportunity to learn more about the accreditation requirements and the process involved to voluntarily become 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:
- Explore the accreditation requirements and process
- Access thread Tools with many valuable resources
- Receive technical assistance to build a plan for accreditation
- Financial grant of $250 to work towards any accreditation goals
Eligibility
- Current/active Alaska SEED Registry
- Licensed child care program
Requirements
- Register for thread Tools
- Complete Introduction to Accreditation self-study (6 hours)
- Build an action plan with a thread Specialist with up to 2 hours of technical assistance
- Submit a completed IRS Form W9 with application
- Submit grant reporting within 90 days after receiving award funds
Reimagine Your Outdoor Environment
Application open through Oct 13, 2023 while funds are available.
Are you looking to revamp your outdoor environment and extend the learning from the indoors to the outdoors? We can help assist to make your outdoor space a more engaging learning environment for your program through technical assistance and planning.
This QI will focus on conceptual design and support to get you on your way towards a more natural outdoor environment rather than having a traditional plastic/rubber playground. We will work with each program’s ideas and goals and add in playground design experience to make a place where children can develop and grow into the advocates for our planet. Our design will be based on child centered inquiry and play based learning/exploring in nature that nurtures children’s curiosity and wonder.
Note: The program & PDS will need to work closely with licensing to ensure regulatory compliance.
As a participant, you will:
- Receive an outdoor site assessment either virtually or in-person depending on location
- Access thread Tools with many valuable resources
- Receive technical assistance to build a plan for improving your outdoor playscape
- Financial grant of $2,000 to work towards any outdoor goals
Eligibility
- Current/active Alaska SEED Registry
- Licensed child care program in Alaska
Requirements
- Register for thread Tools
- Complete Reimagine your Outdoor Environment training (2 hours)
- Write proposal with a thread Specialist using up to 5 hours of technical assistance
- Submit a completed IRS Form W9 and photos of current outdoor space with application
- Submit grant reporting within 90 days after receiving award funds