Did you ever wonder how Durham’s Partnership for Children makes funding decisions?
Well it’s no easy feat. The decision making process to fund programs is the culmination of months of research and analysis conducted by the Durham’s Partnership for Children’s Allocations Committee.
The Allocations Committee is a non-conflicted group of volunteers made up of early childhood educators, local financial industry experts, public administrators, evaluators and other members of the Durham Community that make funding decisions on how to spend the $7.8 million Smart Start local allocation.
Every two years, the committee reviews proposals from prospective programs seeking Smart Start funding during the bidding process and makes recommendations and presents this information to Durham’s Partnership for Children’s Board of Directors. The bidding process requires that the Allocations Committee makes sure programs on the funding table fill the gaps in services for Durham County’s young children. Based on priorities set by the Allocations Committee, applications are ranked and budgets are reviewed down to specific items. The committee also reviews the prospective agency’s record in delivering services based on the program’s model, how many children and families served and the frequency of the services.
In between funding cycles, the group convenes on a monthly basis to study all of Durham’s early childhood services to young children and families in order to make sure the funded programs create a system of care for children and help to meet state benchmarks, known as Performance Based Incentive System (PBIS) goals set forth by the North Carolina Partnership for Children. These benchmarks ensure that all children in NC are healthy and ready for school.
We really are not just a grant evaluation committee,” says Allocations Board Chair Barbara VanDewoestine. “The committee studies young children’s needs in our community and gets acquainted with the people running the Smart Start funded programs to ensure we are making decisions based on data and outcomes.”
During the funding process, The Board votes on the recommendations made by the Allocations Committee, making sure conflicted board members abstain from voting. Once these funding decisions pass a vote and are approved, a full activity description with outcomes and budgets is submitted to the state Smart Start office for approval for a state contract. Then a local contract is drafted, approved and signed by both organizations to begin to deliver services.
VanDewoestine said that the Allocations Committee has worked to set goals on how the group analyzes and collects information. “Our work is no longer just limited to funding decisions,” she says. “We work to look at the early childhood system for children and understand the systemic nature of our funded programs and what other community services are available and accessible for Durham County’s children.”
Durham’s Partnership for Children thanks the Allocations Committee for their hard work reviewing and making funding recommendations during the funding process this spring. Funded programs and allocation amounts will be announced after DPfC receives the state Smart Start allocation for FY-07-08.
Read Next Story
Return to e-Newsletter Homepage
