The recipient entity's physical address:
           4826 Jamestown Ave, Suite 1C, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           P.O. Box 80174, Baton Rouge, La. 70898

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          BRECEC, Inc. Incorporators
Rev. Clee Lowe, President
Dan Chavis, Secretary/Treasurer
Dr. Patricia Edwards, Director
Theta Williams, Director

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  2560

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $775,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Names and address of Governing Board and Officers
Board of Directors
Rev Clee Lowe
President
1414 Sora Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70807

Dan Chavis
Secretary/Treasurer
4826 Jamestown Ave, Suite 1C
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Dr. Patricia Edwards
Director
2301 Montego Drive
Lansing, MI 48912

Theta Williams
Director
9237 Staring Court
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Dr. Kasandra Cyrus
Director
4826 Jamestown Ave, Suite 1C
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Rev. Ronald Sutton
Director
4826 Jamestown Ave, Suite 1C
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Dr. Erma Borskey
Director
4826 Jamestown Ave, Suite 1C
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Patricia Haynes Smith
Executive Director
4826 Jamestown Ave, Suite 1C
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Volunteer Board Advisors

Millard “Sonny” Cranch
153 Courtside Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Dr. Joyce Edwards
8328 Ormand Drive
Zachary, LA 79791

Dianne Helire
4205 Azie Avenue
Baker, LA 70714

Dr. Mary Louise Jones
5813 Georgetown Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Dr. Al Barrone
4826 Jamestown Ave, Suite 1C
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Cherryl Matthews
5635 Valley Forge
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Dr. Rose Thompson
1414 Sora Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70807

Dr. Marie Weiss
1522 N Prospect, Unit 506
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Administration

Shelia Chavis, M. Ed, Ed.S
Education Director
4826 Jamestown Avenue, Suite 1C
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Melba Venison, M. Ed
Assistant Education Director
4826 Jamestown Avenue, Suite 1C
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Project Name: Home-Based Early Childhood Caregiver/Provider Education Project
Challenge/Needs addressed by the Project.
The proposed Home-based Early Childhood Caregiver/Provider Education Project is an extension of the current HomeStart Program and addresses the absence of early childhood education and its negative impact on school readiness. According to the LA Policy Institute for Children, 60% of children in Louisiana are not ready for kindergarten and do not meet critical kindergarten benchmarks. This project provides under-resourced parents/caregivers with the skills, knowledge, and support that help prepare children for school by becoming their child’s first teacher.
The project addresses the quality of education provided by home-based childcare providers, the shortage of childcare workers, and the lack of childcare economic opportunities in rural areas, called “childcare deserts.” There are many areas in Louisiana with very few or no affordable daycare centers.
Project Components
The Home-based Early Childhood Caregiver/Provider Education Project will implement the two models of the evidence-based Parent Child Plus (PC+) program, a Workforce Economic Development component and a Faith-based component.

1. ParentChild+ One-on-One Model
The caregivers participating in the evidence-based PC+ program’s one-on-one model will be assigned Early Learning Specialists (ELS), who will conduct initial assessments and develop with the parent/caregiver an individualized learning plan for each preschooler. The ELS will conduct regular visits (in person or virtual) with participating parents/caregivers to provide materials and guidance that will help prepare preschoolers for kindergarten. During the two-year program cycle, the ELS will conduct 92 visits per family. The ELS will present lessons using 46 books and educational toys.
2. ParentChild+ Home Based Child Care (HBCC) Provider Model
The ELS will utilize the HBCC Model for home-based caregivers. The in-home approach makes it convenient for caregivers/providers to access professional learning support. The individualized support capitalizes on their talents and passions, while strengthening their observation and reflective skills. The ELSs build relationships with providers to determine how to effectively support them and the children in their care. Over the course of the 24-week program, each caregiver/provider will receive 48 home visits and acquire a library of:
• Twelve high-quality books and educational materials, with guide sheets, selected for their applicability to multiple age groups.
• Each child will receive six quality books and educational toys for parent engagement in the education of their child, as their child’s first teacher.

3. Workforce-Economic Enhancement Component
This component will be implemented to provide childcare workers in “childcare deserts” with few or no affordable daycare centers. Parents/caregivers who participate in the project are candidates for employment as childcare workers and/or home-based childcare providers.
Workforce development opportunities in early childcare and education will be provided to caregivers in their own communities. Caregivers who participate in the home-based provider component of the project will receive additional guidance and support in becoming registered or, if registered, certified providers. Participants will receive support through quarterly/monthly meetings, newsletters, and referrals to community childcare network services.
4. Faith-based Early Childhood Education Component
The purpose of this component is to develop early childhood education programs within 10 churches that will help establish activities for families with preschool children not in daycare or Head Start. Participating churches will receive support utilizing the PC+ one-on-one model. Families served by this component will meet the eligibility requirements of all other families enrolled in the project.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $400,000
          Professional Services. . . $23,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $65,000
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $75,000
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $147,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $65,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          Response:
Mission Statement:
Our mission is to facilitate the collaboration of organizations to provide home-based early childhood education and support to families and caregivers of under-resourced children, in preparing them for kindergarten.

Our Beginning
Baton Rouge Early Childhood Education Collaborative, Inc. (BRECEC) was organized in 2019 by concerned community citizens to address the educational needs of preschool children in low-income households, who are not enrolled in a learning center or Head Start. These children are receiving in-home care from family members and other caregivers with limited education (if any) to prepare the children for kindergarten and school success. Low-income families have resource and commitment barriers that hinder kindergarten preparation efforts. Many of these parents and caregivers also have employment barriers and lack the necessary resources and opportunities to find and maintain jobs with a living wage.
BRECEC was designated a 501(c)3 non-profit organization on July 17, 2020.
With initial funding from grants provided by private foundations and several state and local government agencies, BRECEC’s HomeStart Early Childhood Education and Wellness Program was initiated in March 2021. The initial program services were to East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority (EBRPHA) families and other unserved low-income families receiving SNAP or MEDICAID benefits. In 2022, services were expanded to include Home Based Child care (HBCC) providers caring for up to six children in their homes. Today, with additional State funding, the Program will serve over 100 families and 20 HBCC providers across the Baton Rouge Region. The organization has served 198 families with 252 children in the one-on-one model since March 2021 and recently served four HBCC providers with 20 children.
The HomeStart program employs trained Early Learning Specialists (ESL) who utilize the evidence-based PC+ program (PC+) education component, LA Believes Early Childhood Education Standards for birth to 5 years old, Louisiana Public Broadcasting’s (LPB) Bright-by-Text, and other age-appropriate educational/developmental resources and assessments, including Ages and Stages.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Project Goals and Objectives

Goal #1
To improve the availability of early childhood education in underserved , low-income families.
Objective:
• To implement the nationally recognized, evidence-based Parent Child Plus Core Model for 130 low-income families, with children ages16 months to 28 months, during the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Goal #2
To address the critical shortage of home-based childcare providers, especially in rural areas and “childcare deserts.”
Objective:
• To assist 20 caregivers of preschoolers in becoming registered home-based child care providers for up to 6 children (at least one classified as low-income).
Goal #3
To increase community support of early childhood education provided by churches.
Objective:
To enroll ten churches to participate as a site for the PC+ Program for parents and caregivers within their congregation or community.

Goal # 4
To address the critical shortage of certified Home-based childcare providers, especially in rural and “childcare deserts.”
Objective:
• To assist 10 registered home-based child care providers to become certified.






The project is proposed to provide multiple benefits to the State of Louisiana.
1. The project will provide early childhood education to 230 children, who are not in a learning center or Head Start.
2. The project will educate 230 parents/caregivers on their role as a child’s first teacher.
3. The project will introduce workforce development/Economic Enhancement options to parents/caregivers as a registered/certified home-based childcare provider.
4. The project will facilitate participation of 10 Churches in early childhood education, bringing long-term sustainable benefit to the community.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           July 1, 2024 to JUNE 30, 2025 12 Month Period

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                 

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
              

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
               

          What is the nature of the relationship? 

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               


Contact Information
name:  Dan Chavi 
                                       address:  P.O. Box 80174
Baton Rouge, LA 70898
                                       phone:  (225) 315-4329
                                       fax:  N/A
                                       e-mail:  dan.chavis@yahoo.com
                                       relationship to entity:  COO