Bainum Family Foundation Invests $4.5 Million to Boost Supply of High-Quality Early Learning Seats in D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8

Bainum Family Foundation Invests
$4.5 Million to Boost Supply of
High-Quality Early Learning Seats
in D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8

Bethesda, Maryland (September 12, 2017) — Continuing its commitment to improve early childhood in the District of Columbia, the Bainum Family Foundation today announced a $4.5 million partnership with national expert Reinvestment Fund to help expand the supply of high-quality early learning seats for infants and toddlers in Wards 7 and 8.

The Foundation’s strategic plan calls for adding 750 high-quality early learning seats in these two wards by 2020. Efforts to meet this goal include creating new seats through facility construction and expansion, as well as improving the quality of facilities with existing seats.*

“Facility upgrades are often needed to help early learning providers meet higher quality standards,” says Rozita Green, Chief Strategy Officer for the Foundation. “Upgrades can be complex and cost-prohibitive, so the Foundation provides technical assistance and financing to help providers meet the standards. We offer gap financing to help providers add new seats or enhance the quality of existing seats. This new funding will accelerate and support these efforts in a substantial way.”

The Foundation’s contract with Reinvestment Fund and its partner organization Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) — which together have led a similar effort, the Fund for Quality in Philadelphia, since 2014 — includes two components:

A $3.8 million loan fund called the Early Learning Quality Fund (ELQF). Reinvestment Fund will use the ELQF fund to make loans to qualifying early learning providers in order to finance the addition of an estimated 625 new high-quality seats in Ward 7 and 8. The work will create a scalable model that includes a pipeline of high-capacity providers.
$700,000 in advance work to prepare service providers to make capital improvements and add sustainable high-quality seats. This work will take about a year to complete and begins with a supply and demand analysis of infant and toddler child care in the District to help target resources where they are needed most.

“This work in the District is replicating our successful effort in Philadelphia, which uses data and analysis to target resources toward creating high-quality early learning opportunities,” said Don Hinkle-Brown, President and CEO of Reinvestment Fund. “In partnership with the Public Health Management Corporation, the Philadelphia initiative created over 1,000 new, high-quality spots in early childhood education in its first three years, with 85% of those spots occupied by children of low-income families. It is on track to create 2,400 high-quality seats by 2021.”

The new investment is part of the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to improve the odds for the District’s infants and toddlers, especially those at greatest risk.

“High-quality early learning helps ensure that children get a strong start during the critical birth-to-three years and are able to thrive later as students in school and adults in life,” said Barbara Bainum, Chair of the Board, CEO and President of the Foundation. “We want this for all children in the District, and we look forward to working with Reinvestment Fund and PHMC, alongside our existing partners, to reach our goals and increase the availability of high-quality early learning seats in D.C.’s underserved neighborhoods.”

“I applaud the Bainum Family Foundation’s strategic investment in ensuring more equitable access to high-quality early learning for D.C.’s youngest learners,” said State Superintendent of Education Hanseul Kang. “We are excited to partner with the Foundation on the citywide supply and demand study. OSSE also will use the findings to inform distribution of the Mayor’s $9 million facility enhancement funding for Fiscal Year 2018 aimed at expanding by 1,000 the number of infant and toddler seats across the city.”

* The Foundation defines “high-quality” seats as promoting the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of young children while also providing vital health, mental wellness and other supports to children and their parents. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) Quality Improvement Network (QIN) is based on these standards, and this comprehensive approach also is reflected in the District’s enhanced quality rating and improvement system, Capital Quality, and its new licensing regulations for early learning providers.

The Bainum Family Foundation combines proven expertise with a passion for supporting the whole child by providing integrated services to help them thrive. Our circle of collaboration includes investments and support in early learning, wrap-around services and knowledge building. Founded in 1968 by Stewart and Jane Bainum, the Foundation has helped underserved children exit poverty through high-quality educational programs and services for nearly 50 years. For more information, visit bainumfdn.org.

Reinvestment Fund is a catalyst for change in low-income communities. We integrate data, policy and strategic investments to improve the quality of life in low-income neighborhoods. Using analytical and financial tools, we bring high-quality grocery stores, affordable housing, schools and health centers to the communities that need better access — creating anchors that attract investment over the long term and help families lead healthier, more productive lives. Learn more at reinvestment.com.

Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices and evidence-based guidelines to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance and a prepared workforce. PHMC’s Early Childhood Education group’s mission is to ensure that all young children and their families, particularly those at-risk, have access to high-quality early learning experiences. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information, visit phmc.org.

Contacts

Ann Egan
Senior Director of Communications
Bainum Family Foundation
240.450.0027
aegan@bainumfdn.org

Kavita Vijayan
Director, Strategic Communications
Reinvestment Fund
215.574.5893
kavita.vijayan@reinvestment.com