Community Engagement Liaison & Facilitator

Background

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is undertaking a comprehensive modernization of its Early Childhood Education (ECE) digital and policy infrastructure, including the Child Care Scholarship Program (CCSP), Maryland EXCELS, Pre-K, and Child Care Licensing. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between local operational realities and state-level decision-making by formalizing a pathway for community insights to reach leadership. The goal is to ensure that ECE systems are technically sound and supported by a legislative framework that reflects the needs of Maryland’s diverse provider and parent populations.

Work Details

The contractor will lead a sophisticated stakeholder engagement and policy synthesis operation, which includes: 1) Designing and managing semi-annual focus groups and the Parent and Provider Advisory Group, facilitating discussions among diverse partners such as Local Early Childhood Councils, CCRC Hubs, Head Start providers, and foster care parents. 2) Synthesizing feedback from these sessions into high-level reports that track community-identified challenges into actionable proposals for system enhancements. 3) Collaborating with internal teams to align early childhood services and reduce duplication while ensuring family perspectives are represented in policy shifts. 4) Leading outreach efforts for underserved communities, particularly foster care parents, ensuring their voices are central to the state's approach. The contractor will also oversee two community-based liaisons to strengthen local messaging.

Period of Performance

The contract is anticipated to begin on or about May 15, 2026, and terminate on December 31, 2026.

Place of Performance

Work will be conducted across multiple counties in Maryland with meetings facilitated at the Maryland State Department of Education located at Nancy S. Grasmick Building, 200 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.

Bidder Requirements

Bidders must demonstrate expertise in large-scale family and stakeholder engagement strategies within a governmental context; possess formal training in facilitation or mediation; have experience working with historically disconnected communities; be prepared for regular travel throughout Maryland; maintain technical proficiency with modern computer equipment; hold at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related fields; and be registered as a small business or minority business enterprise if applicable.