Primary Department: Economic Equity and Opportunity
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Jie Wu
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Brazelton Touchpoints Center
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Transmittal by the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity of the Early REACH Semi-Annual Data Memo (April 2026) conducted by Brazelton Touchpoints Center.
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Background and Discussion:
On January 31, 2023, Harris County Commissioners Court approved a contract with BakerRipley (in partnership with United Way of Greater Houston) to administer the Early REACH program. The program aims to create 800-1,000 high-quality child care slots in child care deserts, serving children (ages 0-4) from families in high Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) areas or low-income households. Early REACH also aims to improve working conditions and reduce turnover for child care staff.
Brazelton Touchpoints Center (BTC), in collaboration with Harris County, BakerRipley, and United Way, is conducting an ongoing evaluation that explores the associations between Early REACH child care slots and access to high-quality child care and early education. BTC's evaluation assesses the following program goals: 1) supporting teacher recruitment and retention in early childhood centers, and 2) building and supporting center quality. Evaluation results were used to strengthen program operations in real-time to best support centers and families.
The fourth semi-annual data memo, published in April 202...
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