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ABCD Constructing Connections
As of 2005, Constructing Connections has funded ten counties throughout California.
Launched in 2004 with the support of First 5 California, Constructing Connections, a part of the ABCD Initiative, is an innovative program that actively encourages the child care and community development sectors to work together to support and streamline the process of financing, constructing and managing child care facilities in California. Through partnership building and training, Constructing Connections ensures that the child care community gains greater access to sources of financing and support for construction projects and that new child care spaces are continuously created for California's growing population.
As of 2005, Constructing Connections has funded ten counties throughout California. Lead agencies include the Children and Families Commission of Santa Barbara, First 5 Riverside, Crystal Stairs of Los Angeles County, Child Development Resources of Ventura County, Inc., The Children's Network of Solano County, Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Orange County United Way, Child Action, Inc. of Sacramento County, Merced County Office of Education, and Human Resources Council, Inc. of Amador and Calaveras Counties.
Constructing Connections works specifically with child care intermediaries such as First 5 commissions, resource and referral agencies and local planning councils. The program supports intermediaries in two ways:
Regional Collaboratives Throughout the State
We sponsor lead agencies in 10 regions to form or strengthen collaboratives of community development and child care representatives. These groups work together to find ways to simplify the facility development process. By removing barriers such as unfriendly building ordinances, the collaboratives ensure that more child care centers can be built to meet the needs of the community. We provide these partners with the following resources:
- The Expert Pool--available child care facilities development professionals who can help conduct needs assessments, overcome barriers to facilities development, access local resources and more
- The Learning Community--a network of peers who actively share successes, challenges and best practices with each other and with communities throughout the state
- One-on-one technical assistance, resources, tools and targeted training
- Up to $75,000 of funding to create and strengthen the collaborative
Facility Development Training
We educate child care intermediaries about the facilities development process and the role intermediaries can play in connecting child care providers to nonprofit and for profit community developers and financial resources. We also train them to help providers, particularly those in low-income communities, to:
- Gain an understanding of facilities development
- Work effectively with community developers, funders and government officials
- Access local and statewide resources for the construction of child care centers
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