First 5 Sonoma County is requesting proposals for the development of healthy infant and child development, parent support, and high quality early care for children 0-5 and their families.

First 5 Sonoma County is preparing to give out a total of $6.8 million in grants to a maximum of 15 applicants who successfully qualify programs that match First 5’s strategic plan and focus on those categories.

Interested applicants are required to attend one of two information sessions: 9 .m. Oct. 25 or 1 p.m. Nov. 15. Both sessions will be held at the Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Ave. in Santa Rosa.

First 5 officials said they will seek to leverage additional community dollars and will fund a varied portfolio of large and small projects that gives priority to large, sustainable projects.

Proposals are due by 3 p.m. Jan. 25.

The following information has been provided by First 5:

“Eligible projects or services include: new construction or renovation of an existing structure; equipment such as playground or classroom equipment, medical equipment, information technology, including evaluation  software, or vehicles; additional or increased implementation of existing strategies identified in the Commission’s 2010-2020 Strategic Plan; training in evidence-based practices that complement those strategies; or other capacity building activities that improve the ability of child-serving agencies to report outcomes through data collection and evaluation.”

To learn more about the First 5 Sonoma County Strategic Plan visit: http://www.first5sonomacounty.org/documents/strategicplan.pdf.

To view the full proposal, timeline and instructions, visit www.first5sonomacounty.org/rfp.htm.