HUB COMMUNICATIONS RFP ISSUED BY TRIBAL EARLY LEARNING
The State of Oregon, acting by and through the Department of Education, (“Agency”), is issuing this Request for Proposal for a communications strategist to guide Agency’s Early Learning Division (“ELD”) and a Tribal Advisory Committee (“TAC”) to co-develop a communications plan and initial marketing and branding for a new initiative known as the Tribal Early Learning Hub (the “Tribal Hub”).
ELD supports all of Oregon’s young children and families to learn and thrive, and its work is in service to children, families, and communities. ELD knows that historically underserved communities represent Oregon’s best opportunity to improve educational outcomes. Strength based approaches and asset-based mindsets will support ELD’s efforts to institutionalize equity. ELD recognizes that in order for each and every child and family to learn and thrive, it must provide differentiated, person-centered resources and support. ELD supports culturally responsive services that are respectful of, and relevant to, the beliefs, practices, cultures, and linguistic needs of diverse populations and communities.
In Oregon, Early Learning Hubs (each a “Hub”) coordinate cross-sector partners to work together to create local systems that are aligned, coordinated, and family-centered. This RFP builds upon the work that began with the 2013 Oregon Legislature passing HB 2013, creating up to 16 Hubs. This began with six Hubs and grew to 16 in 2015, covering the entirety of Oregon. Each Hub was tasked with working with the Tribal Nations that overlap with their regions.
This direction left coordination with Tribes to happen at the regional level, which is in direct conflict with the government-to-government relationship between the State and the nine Tribes located within its borders. In addition, within the current Hub system there had not been a consistent method or support structure in place in which Hubs could access to engage with the Tribes that overlap within their region. This has contributed to varying levels of engagement and unintentionally a lack of cross-sector localized supports for Tribal children and families living in Oregon.
During government-to-government consultation with the Education Cluster, Tribes have requested to develop a Tribal Hub to address this issue. Project planning between the State and the nine Tribes located within its borders to establish both the TAC and Tribal Hub is underway.
In support of the ongoing work associated with the establishment of the Tribal Hub and to ensure adequate communication is embedded throughout the planning and development of this project
SCOPE OF WORK
The purpose of the Tribal Hub communications strategist is to assist ELD and the nine Tribes to develop a Tribal Hub logo, marketing strategy, and communication plan that helps identify how important information will be communicated to stakeholders throughout the Tribal Hub project. This contractor will guide the TAC and ELD to determine who will be receiving the communication, how those people will receive it, and when they’ll receive it.
ELD will look to the communications strategist to develop Tribal Hub communications for early learning system partners including but not limited to the regional Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, other regional Early Learning Hubs, parenting hubs, Tribal governments, and publications as well as Tribal families and other public interests.
Specific project activities and approximate timelines include, but are not limited to:
• Guiding the consultation process between the State and the nine Tribes (2 months);
• Identifying and recruiting qualified stakeholders, including Tribal representatives (1 month);
• Coordinating a stakeholder workgroup to provide input on a program implementation plan set forth by the TAC (6 months);
• Developing a plan for the creation of a Tribal Hub (3 months); and
• Presenting the plan for approval to the State and nine Tribal governments (1 months), proposed work will occur through the TAC and Early Learning Council ongoing meetings and at regular junctures for progress reporting.
The successful Proposer will be required to submit regular progress reports to ELD’s Tribal Affairs Manager and these reports will be shared with the Government-to-Government Education Cluster that meets quarterly and with the Early Learning Council. The successful Proposer may be called upon to discuss progress during the Early Learning Council’s meeting schedule. ELD will also be working with a contracted project facilitator, and the successful Proposer will be expected to coordinate with the project team, including relevant contractors on an on-going basis. The successful Proposer will be expected to design materials and information for publication and to be shared with Tribes and the general public on an on-going basis about the status of this project and progress made.
Closing Date: December 30, 2021, 4:00 PM
Single Point of Contact(SPC): Holley Oglesby
Address: 255 Capitol Street NE
City, State, Zip Salem, OR 97310
Phone (voice) 503-508-1609
E-mail: holley.oglesby@state.or.us
Edelman PR and MWWPR are agencies worth considering.
