Parent Education and Support Program
Current status
This program has been retired. Applications are no longer being accepted for this program.
Purpose
The Parent Education and Support Program invests in the Medi-Cal population in the Alliance service areas in the areas of early childhood development and resources and support for pregnant women, children and families need to thrive.
The program aims to:
- Increase access to childhood development education and parenting skills for parents/caregivers of children up to age 5.
- Remove barriers to preventive health care and supportive resources in the community.
- Support parents/caregivers in developing parenting and coping skills and knowledge of infant and child development.
- Increase access to health care services and supportive resources that support the physical and mental health and well-being of infants and children and their parents/ caregivers.
- Improve access to children’s preventive health care services and behavioral health screening and referrals.
- Strengthen parent/caregiver-child relationships and improve child and maternal socio-emotional well-being.
This program is part of the Healthy Beginnings Focus Area.
Grants support community-based projects that directly serve the Medi-Cal population and align with the Parent Education and Support Program funding goals.
Grants support projects that:
- Implement or expand childhood development education and parenting skills for pregnant women and parents/caregivers of children up to age 5 who are enrolled in Medi-Cal.
- Implement or expand activities that connect pregnant women, children up to age 5 who are enrolled in Medi-Cal and their parents/caregivers to preventive health care services and supportive resources in the community.
- Are facilitated by trained educators and/or promotores/peer leaders.
- Do not supplant reimbursable Medi-Cal Community Health Worker, Doula or Enhanced Care Management benefits for eligible Medi-Cal members.
Strengthen your application
Applicants who demonstrate one or more of the following will strengthen their grant application:
- Commitment to strategies that promote linguistic and cultural competence.
- Use of evidence-based practices or recognized effective practices.
- Evaluation of impact on access to preventive health services and/or health outcomes.
- Leveraging other funding sources and initiatives.
Applicants must meet the minimum eligibility requirements for the Medi-Cal Capacity Grant Program (see Eligibility Guidelines).
Applicants must also be one of the following:
- A for-profit contracted Alliance provider.
- A 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- A community group with a fiscal agent that is a 501(c)(3).
- A governmental entity.
- A local education agency.
Eligible applicants must serve a significant volume of Medi-Cal members in the Alliance service area.
An applicant is limited to one Parent Education and Support Program grant award, which may be used to implement a project at more than one site.
Amount
The Alliance will consider funding projects up to $250,000 per grant.
Term
Program timelines should be no more than 24 months.
Program timelines are defined as the date the project scope of work begins (after grant award date) to the date of project completion.
Funding will be considered for expansion of programs already in progress. However, activities completed or costs incurred prior to approval of the grant request by the Alliance will not be considered. A program budget may contain costs for more than one site.
Eligible expenses
Examples of eligible expenses include:
- Personnel/consultant expenses for individuals with direct responsibilities for the parent education/support program.
- Staff training and development.
- One-time purchase of equipment and/or technology dedicated to program implementation.
- Programmatic costs (materials, non-cash participant incentives, mileage, etc.).
- Data reporting and evaluation.
- Indirect costs up to 15% are eligible and may be included in program budget.
Visit our How to Apply page for deadlines, instructions and the online application form.
Applications require submission of financial statements, including:
- Audited financial statements for the last two fiscal years.
- An organizational profit and loss statement and balance sheet for the last 12 months.
If audited financial statements are not available, applicant should provide a rationale for not performing an annual audit and upload their company or organization’s most recent tax return or Form 990.
Contact Grant Program Staff
- Phone: 831-430-5784
- Email: [email protected]
Grant Resources
MCGP Deadlines
| Round | Deadline | Award Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Jan. 20, 2026 | April 3, 2026 |
| Round 2 | May 5, 2026 | July 17, 2026 |
| Round 3 | Aug. 18, 2026 | Oct. 30, 2026 |
