The first years of a child's life are crucial for their long-term physical, social, and emotional development. Exposing a child to positive experiences and environments and stable, caring, and interactive relationships with adults sets them up for success as they grow. With community resources, families can discover ways to put their children on the path to success.
In Central Massachusetts, community resources are available for young children and their families. However, many people don't know these resources exist or where to go to access them within their communities. In some instances, people come across these resources by accident. Consider the story of Mia, which was highlighted in the Urban Institute's research report, "Connecting the Dots: Infrastructure to Help Massachusetts Families with Young Children Connect to Services."
Mia recently moved to Western Massachusetts with an infant and preschooler. She wanted to build her community and connect with families, early childhood services, and other resources. Unfortunately, she had no idea where to go.
At one point, Mia walked into a local library. As chance would have it, she met someone who connected her with community playgroups, led storytime for families with young kids, and provided her with information about free preschool.
Now, think about what would have happened if Mia had never entered the library or chose to go at a different time. In either of these instances, she probably wouldn't have met the individual who connected her with these community resources.
Unlike Mia, most people aren't likely to walk into a local library and find someone who's able to provide them with community resources. To help address this need, members of the early childhood community have worked together to develop The Early Childhood Agenda, which includes 10 priorities for improving the Massachusetts early childhood system over the next two years.
The agenda's sixth priority focuses on how to "build a landscape analysis of local efforts and consider best practices while developing a comprehensive plan to create local infrastructure for early childhood." Workgroup #6 focuses on this priority.
Creating Local Infrastructure for Early Childhood
Today, thousands of children under the age of 5 are not having their needs met, says Kim Davenport, Vice President of Initiatives & Aligned Programs at Edward Street. This is due in part to the fact that the early childhood system currently in place isn't integrated and connected.
Through Workgroup #6, Edward Street and other community partners are conducting a landscape analysis of existing local coordination efforts, family councils, regional navigation hubs, family support centers, and other state models. We will use this analysis to evaluate best practices and develop a comprehensive blueprint to create goals, governance, funding, staffing, and coordination for local infrastructure for early childhood.
Kim compares the blueprint to one that's used to build a home. For example, a builder will consider the size and number of rooms in a home during the construction process. In a similar fashion, within Workgroup #6, there are some standard elements and choices. Workgroup members are capturing best practices, features, and models. We're using them to design an early childhood system that's connected, integrated, works seamlessly, and meets the needs of children and their families.
Local families want resources that they can use to help their children thrive. The blueprint will help communities consider local family needs, access points, and supports as they build their local systems. This will make it easy for families to find and access early childhood resources whenever they need them.
With local infrastructure for early childhood in place, families will be connected to resources that they can use to help their kids flourish. Plus, the infrastructure will help give care providers quick, accurate, and timely systems and communications about what early childhood services are available to families.
Additionally, we're identifying recommendations to bring to the state level. "Our goal is to lift up those ideas to state leadership, so that they can continue to refine the support and resources they provide to communities," Kim says. "We want to be able to build upon successful existing infrastructure and networks. That way, we'll build a comprehensive system across the Commonwealth in which each community has the infrastructure and support systems to ensure young children and their families thrive."
Help Us Transform Early Childhood in Massachusetts
Here are things you can do to show your support for the Early Childhood Agenda and Workgroup #6:
- Join Workgroup #6 and other Early Childhood Agenda workgroups
- Sign up for Early Childhood Agenda updates
- Sign up for the Together for Kids Coalition email list
- Read the Eye on Early Childhood Blog
- Look up Fast Facts by community
- Join The 9:30 Call
Kim discussed Workgroup #6 during the 9:30 Call on March 5, and you can watch the recording or view the presentation slides.
Edward Street actively supports the Early Childhood Agenda and its workgroups.
Read our blog and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for updates on the agenda, its workgroups, and other early childhood initiatives, programs, and news in Central Massachusetts.