Developmental Parent-Child Playgroups for Children with Exceptional Needs

First 5 Sacramento is seeking a single entity or consortium to provide developmental parent-child playgroups for children ages 0 to 5 with exceptional needs, utilizing the evidence-based Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) protocol, with responses due August 17, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. and a contract period of July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2030.

Eligible organizations include public, private, non-profit, governmental, and faith-based entities located in or currently serving Sacramento County populations. Organizations cannot serve as pass-through entities by re-granting funds to other providers; partnerships and subcontracts are permitted.

Playgroups must operate at least twice weekly for minimum 60-minute sessions across at least 32 weeks annually in community settings such as family resource centers or libraries, or at the contractor's location. Maximum group size is eight children, with siblings ages 0 to 5 permitted at the grantee's discretion and not counted toward the cap. Programming must include sensory play activities, accommodate non-English-speaking families, and prioritize recruitment from Sacramento County ZIP codes with child poverty rates exceeding 25%. Playgroup spaces must be designed for young children with consideration for overstimulation concerns and include quiet spaces. Applicants must demonstrate detailed experience and expertise in supporting both young children with exceptional needs and their parents/caregivers.

Total contract funding is $240,000 cumulatively over three years. First 5 Sacramento strongly recommends equal budget allocation across all years to support sustainability. Reasonable budget increases up to 2 percent annually in years 2 and 3 are permitted if justified; front-loading costs in year 1 is prohibited. The UC Davis MIND Institute has successfully operated the playgroups since fall 2024 under the original 2024 funding.

Responses must be submitted electronically through the Sacramento County procurement portal. Questions should be directed to Lindsay Dunckel, Program Planner with First 5 Sacramento, at dunckell@saccounty.gov or (916) 876-6683.