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?
Applications for thread’s QIs are now closed for the remainder of the fiscal 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.
If you have questions, please contact us.
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 | Family Child Care and Group Homes: $5,000 – $10,000 Child Care Centers: $5,000 – $20,000 |
$1,000 |
| Application Deadline | March 29, 2024 | February 16, 2024 |
| Application | Closed | 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 – $10,000 | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| February 16, 2024 | February 16, 2024 | February 16, 2024 |
| Application | Closed | Closed |
for NEW BUSINESSES
New/Startup Licensed Child Care Program
Applications closed on March 29, 2024.
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 $5000 and $10,000 for Family Child Care and Group Homes and between $5000 and $20,000 for Centers (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
Applications closed on February 16, 2024.
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 – $4,000 to work on your goals for your infant and toddler classrooms
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
- Complete 6-12.5 hours of training from a menu of approved trainings that will be provided.
- Submit a competed IRS Form W9 with application.
- Submit grant reporting within 90 days after receiving award funds
Accreditation
Applications closed on February 16, 2024.
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 $1,000 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
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 award between $2,000 and $10,000 to work towards your outdoor environment 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