First 5 SMC Reflective Supervision Consultation Services RFSQ

First 5 San Mateo County (F5SMC) invites responses to this Request for Statement of Qualifications (“RFSQ”) from qualified consultants, agencies and/or individuals. The successful Respondent may eventually enter into contract with F5SMC to provide Reflective Supervision Consultation Services for supervisory or managerial staff at child- and family-serving agencies in San Mateo County who support those providing direct services to young children and their families. See Attachment C, Sample F5SMC Independent Contractor Agreement.

Respondents may request up to a total of $75,000 for the 11-month contract term which begins as soon as August 1, 2025 and ends June 30, 2026. The full amount should include all costs associated with conducting and hosting the Reflective Supervision training.

Funding Amount and Available Term

First 5 SMC has allocated a maximum of $75,000 over 11 months to meet the goals and objectives detailed in this RFSQ. This service is exclusively supported with $75,000 of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding.

First 5 San Mateo County Strategic Plan

The Commission was authorized to develop a Strategic Plan and allocate funds accordingly. On December 16, 2024, the Commission approved the most recent Strategic Plan for the years 2025-2030. The Commission identified the following desired outcomes to guide its efforts during the Strategic Plan period:

1. San Mateo County leaders and partners fully invest in young children and their families.

2. Communities provide a safe and healthy environment for young children.

3. Children have timely and affordable access to high-quality early care and education settings.

4. Families feel connected to and supported by their community and able to nurture their children’s health
and development.

5. Children have healthy relationships and stable attachments to their primary caregivers.

6. Children have access to and are utilizing appropriate health care services to meet their health and
developmental needs.

7. Families have agency and voice to direct policies and systems that impact their children.

The 2025-2030 Strategic Plan is consistent with the focus and intent of the Children and Families Act, building on what has been learned and accomplished locally and providing a framework for the Commission and the community for how Proposition 10 funds will be strategically invested over the next five years. Central to the success of these investments is a strong foundation that adequately prioritizes early childhood systems and services in San Mateo County. These foundational improvements will be furthered with investments in four core domains: Quality Care and Education, Healthy Children, Resilient Families, and Systems Change.

In light of the Commission’s declining revenues, F5SMC is expanding opportunities for partnership. During the Strategic Planning Process, the First 5 San Mateo County Commission examined how its role in the community could best maximize positive impacts for children, families and the community. For the duration of the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, F5SMC will focus on three primary community roles: Strategic Financial Investor, Community Partner in aligned efforts and as a Community Leader to advocate for the prioritization of young children and their families in decision making processes. Respondents should be familiar with the content of the new Strategic Plan, Attachment A which is also available on the First 5 San Mateo County F5SMC website at www.first5sanmateo.org .

As a result of the Strategic Planning Process, the Strategic Plan Implementation Plan (SPIP) – Phase 1, was developed for the implementation of fiscal investments for fiscal years 2025-2026, 2026-2027, 2027-2028 and lists current and upcoming program funding and activities; see Attachment B.

Trauma-Informed Practice

First 5 San Mateo County has a strong history of supporting trauma-informed approaches for young children and their families as well as the providers who serve them.

Since 2018, First 5 SMC has prioritized supporting local child- and family-serving organizations to adopt trauma-informed organizational practices and approaches. This effort has included organizational assessments and coaching as well as cross-agency opportunities and a resource hub. Nine agencies and departments have received the full breadth of the offerings to date.

In 2024 with a grant from the state, F5SMC began training mental health clinicians in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), an evidence-based trauma-informed dyadic practice. Over 60 clinicians working in SMC have begun their training since that time, improving their capacity and confidence to treat young children and their caregivers.

In a similar spirit, this procurement aims to provide staff, supervisors, and leaders in local agencies and departments with practical tools to improve communication, foster collaborative work environments, and support the well-being of those working in early childhood and family-serving programs.

Reflective supervision is a proven, relationship-driven approach that fosters stronger teams, effective leadership, and improved child and family outcomes. By integrating relational health, mindfulness, and reflective practice into supervisory roles, organizations can reduce burnout, enhance staff engagement, and strengthen program effectiveness.