In December 2019, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced that California was one of 26 states and territories that were awarded funding either for the PDG-R (20) or PDG-I planning (6). The total amount awarded is 11 percent less than the original amount California requested ($13,414,500 annually for three years for a total of $40.2 million). The California Health and Human Services (CHHS) agency submitted California’s application for the PDG-R and is currently awaiting approval of a budget modification request from the ACF. If you are interested in reviewing the initial application submitted for the PDG-R, please find it posted on the CHHS website.
The application covers six different required activity areas, which include (1) statewide needs assessment; (2) statewide strategic plan; (3) parent and family knowledge, choice, and engagement; (4) best practices and professional development for the workforce; (5) improvement in quality and service integration, expanded access, and new programs; and (6) monitoring, evaluation, and data use for continuous improvement, meaningful governance, and stakeholder engagement. Specific activities proposed by the CHHS build on key PDG-I projects and generally align with the focus areas of the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care (MPELC) that will be completed in the fall of 2020.
The CDE is partnering with the CHHS in the transition of lead agency oversight for the PDG-R while the CDE continues to manage the final projects of the PDG-I. It is anticipated that projects for the PDG-R will begin in July 2020. For questions about PDG-R, please contact the PDG team at the CHHS by email at PDG@chhs.ca.gov.