QUALITY INITIATIVES

Quality Initiatives

Quality Improvement Awards and Mini-Grants

 

Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network (MRTQ PDN) partners with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services (DHHS, OCFS) to offer Quality Improvement Awards (QIA) and Quality Improvement Mini-Grants (QIMG) to early childhood and out-of-school time practitioners in Maine.

The Awards and Mini-Grants include cash, approved purchases, and items awarded to childcare programs for their efforts in improving the quality of care they provide to children and families.  

Quality Improvement Awards and Mini-grants are based on available funding and change from time to time. 

Quality Improvement Awards for increasing Star ratings on Rising Stars for ME

The Quality Improvement Awards were provided to programs to increase their Star rating.

At this time
,
no new ​Quality Improvement Awards ​are available.

For programs that received a Quality Improvement Award and are working to increase their Star rating by 11-14-25, the following documents may be helpful:

Moving to Star 3 or 4: Completing the Award Process
Moving to or Maintaining a Star 5: Completing the Award process

Coursework and TA opportunities 

Awards and mini-grants are provided to participants who complete specific training and Technical Assistance opportunities.   

At this time, courses with awards or mini-grants are not available.

Earning a Maine Credential:

Updates pending.

For any questions about the above or previous Quality of ME Quality Improvement Awards and Mini-grants, contact Karen Bergeron at mrtq.qiawards@maine.edu or 207-653-5090.