Contact Person: Jacqueline Osborne
E-mail Address: josborne@fcs.k12.al.us

Governance: Coordinating Committee

Type of Area Served: Rural

Approach: The initiative is part of statewide effort to better coordinate services for young children and focuses on public awareness and school readiness.

Description: A broad range of community agencies and organizations meet quarterly to coordinate services for young children birth to five years of age. Initial efforts were focused on assessing the most pressing needs of families with young children residing in the county. The organization has also worked to heighten public awareness about the importance of early care and education and the needs of young children. Comprehensive screening services are coordinated through Kidstuff in order to assure that children are screened for health and developmental needs prior to entering public kindergarten.

Financing: State and federal funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Coordination of effort through the local Children’s Policy Council
• Local needs assessment focused on young children
• The development of a strategic plan to implement kindergarten readiness priorities
• Public awareness through “Stand Up for Children Day” each year.

Website or Web References:
http://www.kidstuffalabama.org/programs.htm

Contact Person: Chandra Travers

E-mail Address: partnerships@aeyc-sea.org
Governance: Partnership Organization

Type of Area Served: Urban and Rural

Approach:This is a comprehensive early childhood initiative involving community based agencies, organizations, and parents cognizant of Alaska’s traditional tribal values.

Description: The initiative brings early childhood providers and community members together in order to coordinate services and establish a more seamless system of services for children birth to eight years. System-building efforts are focused on behavioral health outreach, transition from early care to the public education system, public awareness and outreach to the business community, and resource development. Formal evaluation strategies are utilized to guide the initiative.

Financing: Federal, local, and private foundation funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Early childhood resource guide and map
• Mental health consultation for early care and education providers.
• Outreach to employers to encourage family friendly policies.
• Screening tool used across multiple agencies to screen for social/emotional
  concerns in young children.

Website or Web References:
http://www.southeastfamilies.org/pressreleasepreschool05.pdf

Name of Initiative: Ready for School
Location: Wilmington Park - Los Angeles, California

Contact Person: Michael Shannon
E-mail Address: michael.shannon@lausd.net

Governance: Advisory Board

Type of Area Served: Primarily Urban

Approach: The initiative is coordinated by a lead agency - the Los Angeles Unified School District - and is designed to build a more integrated early childhood system for children birth to five years.

Description: Early childhood services are coordinated through a family resource center model, which is the service hub for an integrated service system. The family resource center provides a broad range of services on-site and maintains linkages to other community providers serving young children. The initiative focuses on improved access to child care, health and wellness services, early intervention, early literacy, and family support. Improved communication and coordination between school staff and community providers is a key component of the approach. Research and data collected from parents shape direction and program development and evaluative data are collected on a regular basis.

Financing: Federal, state, local and private funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Linkages have been developed among community-based early education services and schools.
• Programs meet specific community needs and draw on local community strengths.
• Parents are engaged, local providers are closely involved, and an advisory board provides ongoing governance.
• Services are provided from prenatal to school age in order to ensure that children are better prepared for starting school and schools are ready for the children.
• Significant improvements have been documented related to parent engagement in early learning activities in the home.

Website or Web References: Not available

Contact Person: Karen Rahn
E-mail Address: rahnk@bouldercolorado.gov

Governance: Interagency Council

Type of Area Served: Primarily Urban

Approach: The initiative was originally part of the Colorado Child Care Pilot and is focused on expanding and improving the quality of early care and education programs in the Boulder area.

Description: An interagency council coordinates efforts to develop a more coordinated system of care for young children, improve the quality of care available, and increase access to affordable childcare services. A professional development committee oversees activities related to improving the early care and education workforce and the initiative has developed reports related to school readiness of Latino children and the economic impact of the child care industry. The Council is moving to focus more attention on the development of a shared vision for an early care and education system in the Boulder area and coordination of system-building efforts. The Council is currently developing a set of indicators in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Education’s "Results Matter" initiative. The indicators will be monitored to assess progress toward locally defined outcomes.

Financing: Federal, local, and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• A federal Early Learning Opportunities grant to support system-building efforts.
• A community recognition event to assist in building a shared vision for systems development.
• Ongoing professional development activities.
• The introduction of mental health consultation in early care and education programs.

Website or Web References:
http://www.bouldercountyece.org/

Name of Initiative: Child FIRST
Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut

Contact Person: Darcy Lowell, MD
E-mail Address: pdlowe@bpthosp.org

Governance: Advisory Board

Type of Area Served: Urban and Suburban

Approach: This initiative addresses service system redesign in order to better coordinate and integrate broad, comprehensive family-driven services and supports for young children and their families. The approach is focused on the prevention of emotional disturbance, developmental delay and learning difficulties, and abuse and neglect.

Description: The initiative seeks to establish a coordinated, comprehensive service system for young children and their families, including early identification, community-based consultation, intensive home-based services, and care coordination to access comprehensive services for the child and all members of the family. There is a focus on children’s mental health services and on the challenges faced by parents that interfere with their ability to nurture and support their children’s development. Results are evaluated through formal assessments that address both process and services.

Financing: Federal, state, and private funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Providers’ increased knowledge and recognition of the impact of relationships and family challenges on children’s emotional and cognitive development.
• Comprehensive early childhood system of care.
• Randomized trial that proves the effectiveness of the Child FIRST model.
• Strong collaborative relationships at both the local and state levels with agencies that serve very young children at high risk.
• Screening and consultation for emotional development and environmental risk in community settings: pediatrics, early care, shelters, family resource centers, home visiting programs.
• Development of a model of home-based, intensive assessment and intervention for children and families with multiple challenges, focused on early relationships and emotional health.
• Medicaid reimbursement for home-based, intensive assessment and intervention for children who have mental health diagnose.

Website or Web References:
http://www.house.gov/shays/news/2005/november/novchild.htm

Name of Initiative: Opportunity Knocks
Location: Middletown, Connecticut

Contact Person: Susan Macary
E-mail Address: Susan_Macary@midhosp.org

Governance: Steering Committee

Type of Area Served: Urban

Approach: This broad-based initiative is focused on strengthening the links between health services and early care and education systems.

Description: The initiative functions as a collaborative involving community-based agencies, organizations, and parents interested in building early childhood systems of care through provider education, consultation and referral, and linkage of health-related services with early care and education programs. The focus is on health-related services, and leadership for the collaborative effort is provided by the local hospital. Workgroups focus on priority areas of concern, and coordination is provided through a steering committee. The collaborative uses research evidence and local needs assessment data to shape decisions, and progress is regularly monitored by the steering committee. Measurable indicators have been selected to assess progress toward priority goals.

Financing: Local and private nonprofit funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Free, on-site dental screening, cleanings, and referrals are provided at participating preschools, elementary schools and WIC offices.
• Expulsions and suspensions at preschools have been reduced from twenty-six to one.
• Staff development for all providers of early care and education has been enhanced.
• Culturally sensitive nutrition policies have been developed for preschool programs.
• Daily physical activity has been increased at preschools to meet national standards.

Website or Web References:
http://www.midhosp.org/go/midProgramsAndGroups/progid/B2A0E376-0E3E-D188-765047474C550958

Contact Person: Brian McEwen
E-mail Address: BMcEwen@cachillsborough.com

Governance: Interagency Council

Type of Area Served: Urban and Rural

Approach: This system-building effort seeks to coordinate, evaluate, and fund the infrastructure for and activities of local initiatives focused on enhancing services and improving outcomes for young children.

Description: The Hillsborough County initiative serves to coordinate and link local workgroups and collaborative efforts focused on building better systems for young children in the Tampa area. Primary partners include the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County, Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, the School District of Hillsborough County, and the Children’s Future Hillsborough collaborative. An early childhood system of care work group has established priorities in the areas of systemic issues, administrative infrastructure, access to services, screening and assessment, family support, and adoption of common indicators of success. Individual coalitions and work groups evaluate their work on an ongoing basis.

Financing: Federal, local, and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Service integration through the development of Children’s Future Hillsborough.
• Long-term emphasis on early childhood and related community outcomes by Children’s Board.
• Development and implementation of a universal access model, through Kids Connection Network, enabling a greater value and utilization of the established 2-1-1 system.
• Linkage and coordination for prenatal and postnatal care across local agencies through the Healthy Start Coalition.
• Emergence of the Early Childhood Council as a valued leadership group.
• Promotion of the social emotional aspects of child development.
• Enhancement of provider education and staff development.

Website or Web References:
http://www.early-intervention.org/tampa_hillsborough_childrens.htm
http://www.childrensboard.org/

Contact Person: Rosalind Larsen
E-mail Address: RLarsen@cookcountygov.com

Governance: Interagency Council

Type of Area Served: Urban/Suburban

Approach: The AOK Network - Cicero initiative is designed to improve the way services are delivered to families and to maximize existing state and local resources to ensure that the early childhood needs of all children are identified and adequately addressed by the community.

Description: A coordinating council works to address issues related to fragmented and uncoordinated services for children birth to five years. The network brings together community-based providers serving young children in order to better coordinate services, expand the capacity of the service system, and increase access to appropriate services. Current priorities include: information and outreach to medical services, enhancement of parenting skills, public education about the importance of the first few years of life, and developmental screening of young children. An annual report is published on the status of the early childhood population within the community.

Financing: State and local funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Conducted cross-trainings of community providers, e.g., medical, social service, and mental health providers were briefed on early childhood issues and community resources.
• Increased parental and community awareness of child development and the importance of the early years of life through coordinating annual Celebration of the Young Child events.
• Enhanced community awareness and access to developmental screening and early intervention services for young children.
• Improved coordination of community home visitor programs through enhanced referral and feedback agreements.

Website or Web References:
http://www.ounceofprevention.org/index.php?section=programs&action=program&program=4&page=13
http://cookcountypublichealth.org/PDF/CiceroDirectory0506ENGLISH.pdf
http://www.cookcountypublichealth.org/PDF/CiceroEarlyChildReport.pdf

Name of Initiative: Positive Parenting DuPage
Location: DuPage County, Illinois

Contact Person: Jeanna Capito
E-mail Address: jcapito@positiveparentingdupage.org

Governance: Board of Directors

Type of Area Served: Suburban

Approach: The initiative is redesigning the coordination of early childhood services with a focus on improving parenting skills and child abuse prevention.

Description: Service system coordination and enhancements are focused on home visiting programs and improved access to early childhood services and health care. Key components of the approach include public education and awareness, integration of information and referral services through an online database, and a common screening procedure utilized across multiple agencies. Planning is driven from research and available statistical data. Outcomes are being measured through formal evaluation methods.

Financing: Private foundation funds from multiple sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Development of a screening tool to be used across multiple agencies.
• An intake process and phone line for families and professionals staffed by bilingual English/Spanish professional.
• A comprehensive web-based community resource database for parents and professionals.
• Educational materials, including Born Learning, integrated into services at multiple organizations.

Website or Web References:
http://www.positiveparentingdupage.org/

Contact Person: Dana Keim
E-mail Address: dana.keim@aeroinc.net

Governance: Partnership Organization

Type of Area Served: Predominately Rural

Approach: This initiative addresses service system redesign in order to establish a seamless system of care for children birth to eight years.

Description: The initiative is focused on establishing a family-centered system of care for young children and their families. Particular attention is given to coordination of services for families that are served by multiple agencies. Key components of the service system include care coordination, information and referral, early intervention, and training of the early childhood workforce. Development of an effective linkage between the public education system and early care and education services is also key in their system-building efforts. This initiative identifies gaps in services and works to secure additional resources and develop needed programs. Indicators of the well-being of young children are tracked.

Financing: Federal, state, local, and private foundation funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• A system to identify and track all children needing developmental and health screening during their first year of life.
• An Internet-based assessment and referral system.
• Resources for new parents.
• Training of child care providers.
• Community awareness and education activities.

Website or Web References:
http://archive.naccho.org/modelpractices/Result.asp?PracticeID=55
http://www.ounceofprevention.org/index.php?section=programs&action=program&program=4&page=13

Name of Initiative: Early Childhood Development Coalition
Location: Evansville, Indiana

Contact Person: Erin Ramsey
E-mail Address: eramsey@child-care.org

Governance: Coalition Steering Committee

Type of Area Served: Urban

Approach: The Initiative is a partnership between city government and a local foundation committed to improving early childhood services and policies in the Evansville area.

Description: The initiative focuses on child care access and quality improvement and activities are primarily supported by the Wellborn Baptist Foundation and implemented through the local child care resource and referral agency, 4C of Southern Indiana. Currently, the coordination of resources and services is another identified priority for the coalition. The coalition believes in establishing purposeful relationships for the common good and building connections among the primary partners working to build a more coordinated early childhood services system. Anecdotal evidence has been used to evaluate programs and approaches thus far; however more formal evaluations are being planned.

Financing: Federal and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• More coordinated and efficient services available to families with young children.
• Cross-agency planning to maximize funding resources.
• Implementation of “continuity of care” for infants and toddlers in order to enhance bonding and positive attachments.
• Voluntary Quality Indicator Rating System for early care settings.
• Development work on a comprehensive community-wide plan to address literacy for children birth to five and their families

Website or Web References:
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2006/nov/21/early-learning-years-targeted/

Contact Person: Rich Minder
E-mail Address: successby6@sunflower.com

Governance: Interagency Council

Type of Area Served: Rural and Urban

Approach: The initiative is working to redesign and better coordinate early childhood services through training and outreach.

Description: The focus of this initiative is on expanding the scope and enhancing the quality of the existing network of early childhood care and education through professional development of early education teachers and work to increase the quantity and quality of services to infants and toddlers. A priority area for program development has been increasing access to family support and mental health services through an interagency team delivering services using a home-based model. Evaluative data are collected on a regular basis to assess progress.

Financing: Federal, state, local, and private foundation funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Development of public awareness and acceptance of early childhood services as an integrated system.
• Home-based mental health services for families with young children.
• An early care and education center at Haskell Indian Nations University.
• Early childhood special education consulting services available to center-based child care programs

Website or Web References:
http://www.douglascountysuccessby6.org/

Contact Person: Ann Elliott
E-mail Address: annell@cpol.net

Governance: Steering Committee

Type of Area Served: Rural

Approach: This is an interagency effort of the early childhood group of the Crawford County Community Coalition to coordinate and enhance early childhood services.

Description: This initiative focuses on identifying priority needs of young children and their families and enhancing available services to meet those needs. The initiative was initially focused on the provision of mental health services to young children and their families. Recent activity has been oriented toward education about the need for dental care and the provision of fluoride treatment to young children. Evaluation has consisted of tracking increases in mental health services provided to young children.

Financing: Federal, state, and local funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• A mental health consultation service for child care settings has been established.
• Access to mental health services for young children and mothers has increased.
• A dental clinic for low income families has been established.

Website or Web References: Not available.

Name of Initiative: Every Child Succeeds
Location: Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky

Contact Person: Tom Gannon
E-mail Address: tom.gannon@cchmc.org

Governance: Board of Directors

Type of Area Served: Predominately Urban

Approach: This initiative addresses service system redesign in order to better coordinate and integrate a broad range of services with a focus on home visiting and in-home family education programs.

Description: The initiative is establishing a coordinated system of home visiting programs to strengthen the relationship between the child and primary caregivers and to link families to needed services. Three primary partners (the local Community Action agency, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and United Way) work together with other agencies and organizations in the greater Cincinnati area to serve at-risk families with young children. Results are regularly evaluated, and a continuous quality improvement model is utilized.

Financing: Federal, state, private foundation, and local United Way funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Maternal depression treatment program.
• Research-based home visitation.
• Program to help mothers who are using tobacco stop smoking and reduce the
  amount of exposure children have to secondhand smoke.
• Reduced rate of infant mortality.
• Increased access to a medical home.
• Improved early literacy.
• Development of best practice strategies

Website or Web References:
http://www.everychildsucceeds.org/

Name of Initiative: Great Start System
Location: St. Joseph’s County, MI

Contact Person: Julia Emanuel
E-mail Address: Juliae@sjcisd.org

Governance: Interagency Council

Type of Area Served: Predominately Rural

Approach: This initiative addresses service system redesign in order to better coordinate and integrate a broad range of services through a “no wrong door” philosophy of service delivery.

Description: This is a coordinated service system for young children and their families that utilizes cross-agency budgeting approaches. A high degree of coordination of services and functions is achieved through a collaborative interagency council, which results in the provision of needed services for the birth to five population with minimum duplication. The Great Start Office serves as a single point of entry and hub for a network of early care and education providers. A number of key indicators are regularly monitored in order to provide for ongoing assessment of results.

Financing: Federal, state, local, and private foundation funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Increased collaboration between Head Start and local state-funded preschool programs.
• Countywide measure for kindergarten readiness.
• Increased enrollment in and availability of preschool programs in the county.
• County-wide database of all children birth to school age provided to every local school district.
• Early screening resulting in reduced levels of need for speech therapy and other special education services during kindergarten and first grade.
• Increased outreach to minority populations.
• Increased number of children with special needs identified

Website or Web References:
http://www.greatstartforkids.org/

Contact Person: Courtney McDermott
E-mail Address: cmcdermott@visionforchildren.org

Governance: Steering Committee

Type of Area Served: Urban

Approach: A diverse council convened by city government acts as a coordinating umbrella organization for action on early childhood issues. Issue-specific work groups focus on coordination and service enhancement initiatives.

Description: A steering committee established by the mayor has developed the following strategic priorities for early childhood system building in St. Louis.

• Ensure that all children live, play, and learn in safe and healthy environments.
• Provide all children with positive developmental and early learning opportunities so that they are ready for school.
• Increase the supply, availability, and use of quality child care.
• Promote civic awareness of the positive social and economic impacts for individual children and the community of investing in early childhood success.
• Establish community capacity in the form of governance, financing, and technical support to implement and sustain the early childhood success initiative. 

This systems-building effort is largely unfunded and relies on in-kind contributions from stakeholders interested in better services for young children. There are ongoing efforts to establish and monitor a set of key indicators based on the strategic priorities established by the steering committee.

Financing: Federal, state, and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Public awareness campaign demonstrating the link between early childhood success and economic development.
• Baseline indicators established for use in tracking future results.
• Heightened awareness of the dangers of lead poisoning in young children.
• Grant for early literacy awarded to city.

Website or Web References:
http://stlcin.missouri.org/newsletters/articles.cfm?NewsletterId=4&ArticleId=190

Name of Initiative: Invest Early Initiative
Location: Itasca County, Minnesota

Contact Person: Jan Reindl
E-mail Address: jreindl@isd318.org

Governance: Itasca County Family Services Collaborative

Type of Area Served: Rural

Approach: This initiative aims to improve children’s school readiness through redesigning the system of early childhood screening, care and education; by strengthening and empowering families and by promoting healthy child development.

Description: This new initiative is targeted to underserved families and supported by the Blandin Foundation. It is focused on improved efficiency and coordination of services, quality early childhood care and education, access to resources, and transition from early childhood to the K-3 learning environment for low-income and high-need families with young children. All school districts work closely with Head Start and other community providers to establish a more integrated service system for young children and their families. Wilder Research, in conjunction with the Invest Early leadership team and staff, is conducting a longitudinal and cost-benefit evaluation, documenting and assessing project implementation and outcomes for the service system, families and children.

Financing: Federal, state, local, and private foundation funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Common application form and integrated classrooms implemented county-wide for early childhood programs (school districts and Head Start).
• Braiding of public and private funds to serve more children than would have been otherwise served.
• Early identification and intervention for at-risk children age two and younger.
• School readiness assessment administered to all Itasca County kindergarten students.
• Children’s mental health staff observing and engaged with parents/staff in classrooms.

Website or Web References:
http://www.investearly.org/

Name of Initiative: Children’s Futures
Location: Trenton, New Jersey

Contact Person: Melinda Green
E-mail Address: mgreen@childrensfutures.org

Governance: Board of Directors

Type of Area Served: Urban

Approach: The initiative is structured as a nonprofit organization created to improve child health and development outcomes for children zero to three in Trenton, New Jersey. Major funding for the initiative is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Description: This is a broad-based partnership of organizations, public agencies, and private providers serving young children in Trenton. The initiative serves children birth to three years of age and is focused on four primary goals:

• Strengthening parenting,
• Improving child care systems,
• Improving primary care systems, and  
• Integrating community supports

Four parent/child centers serve as hubs for coordinated service delivery and home visiting. Another area of focus is improving the quality of child care. The Children’s Futures organization serves as a unique community institution, promoting best practice, collaboration, and leadership development.

Financing: Federal, state, local and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Establishment of parent/child centers and a father center.
• Increased child care quality in infant and toddler programs.
• Increased access to home visiting services.
• Improved practice among area physicians to increase the rates of immunization, lead screening, detection of child abuse, and asthma care management.
• Strengthened parenting skills.
• Improved early literacy.
  
  

Website or Web References:
http://www.childrensfutures.org/

Contact Person: Randi Hewit
E-mail Address: rlh@communityfund.org

Governance: Citizen Council

Type of Area Served: Largely Rural

Approach: This is a relatively new initiative supported by the Community Foundation of the Elmira-Corning Area. A citizen-based council coordinates the work and reports to the Foundation board. Community agencies work together to better coordinate and enhance services for young children in the county.

Description: The initiative partners primarily represent public agencies and higher education institutions. The initiative is focused on better coordination of services, increased quality within the early care and education system, and service development in areas of nurse home visits, parent education, and health care. Evaluation strategies are under development.

Financing: Federal, state, local and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Creating a governing body responsible for tasks associated with advocacy, evaluation, public information and long-term funding.
• Established a partnership with Columbia University Teachers' College to provide a comprehensive five-year evaluation of the project.
• Established a pertnership with Cornell University to provide staff training for nurse home visitors, child care providers and parent educators.

Website or Web References: Not available.

Name of Initiative: Durham Family Initiative
Location: Durham, North Carolina

Contact Person: Adele Spitz Roth
E-mail Address:roth@duke.edu

Governance: Management Team

Type of Area Served: Urban

Approach: The initiative focuses on the development of a preventive system of care for young children in order to reduce the incidence of child maltreatment.

Description: The Durham Family Initiative is a partnership among Duke University and local community agencies in the Durham area. Priorities include:

• The development of a comprehensive continuum of family focused programs.
• The development of Child and Family Teams as the vehicle by which families receive coordinated services.
• The development of a community-based collaborative management, support and accountability entity.
• Development of social capital (community and social networks).

Extensive evaluation of the initiative is conducted regularly and includes ongoing monitoring of key indicators related to the well-being of young children in the community and surveys of parents and service providers. Trends in indicator data are compared to neighboring counties in North Carolina designated as a control group.

Financing: Federal, state, and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Collaborative structures have been established for cross-agency planning and practice improvement.
• A comprehensive model of parent support and education for parents of children under age six years has been developed.
• Through collaborative community awareness efforts with Durham’s Partnership for Children, a Smart Start initiative, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce has adopted policies for the support of families with young children.
• Child care quality has improved.
• Access to home visiting services has been increased.
• Services targeted to at-risk families with children birth to six years have been developed.

Contact Person: Henrietta Zalkind
E-mail Address: hzalkind@depc.org

Governance: Board of Directors

Type of Area Served: Rural

Approach: The partnership has its roots in North Carolina’s Smart Start initiative and is one of many local partnerships in the state focused on improving services for young children. It serves the city of Rocky Mount as well as Edgecombe and Nash counties.

Description: This broad-based partnership is supported by a board of directors, which is responsible for coordinated planning and a service system based on the needs of children birth to eight years. Primary goals of the partnership are:

• Universal access to quality education,
• Elimination of barriers to services,
• Improved parenting and parent involvement in school, and
• Improved transition to school.
 

Two citizen-based groups - “Community Fellows” and “Champions for Children”- assist the partnership board with linking children to services and raising public awareness of the importance of the early years of life. Key indicators related to early childhood development and the well-being of young children are regularly monitored.

Financing: Federal, state, local and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Improved interagency coordination in areas of child care subsidies and shared information, resources, and training opportunities.
• Development of a universal intake and referral system implemented through a network of family resource centers.
• Community forums to educate the public about issues of school readiness, transition to public schools, and ready schools.
• Increased understanding of the economic impact of the child care industry

Website or Web References:
http://www.depc.org/

Name of Initiative: Region A Partnership for Children
Location: Western North Carolina

Contact Person: June Smith
E-mail Address: june@regionakids.org

Governance: Board of Directors

Type of Area Served: Rural

Approach: This is a regional approach with roots in North Carolina’s Smart Start initiative. The region includes the seven westernmost counties and the Qualla Boundary, home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Description: The partnership is made up of governmental and private agencies serving children prenatal to five years throughout the seven-county region. Each county and the Qualla Boundary have established a Smart Start team made up of local agency representatives and parents. The local committees work with the regional board to assure that local priorities receive attention within the regional planning structure. The partnership focuses on coordination of services, access to quality, affordable early care and education, preventive and primary health care, mental health services, and strengthening of families. Key indicators related to early childhood development and the well-being of young children are monitored, and a longitudinal study of child outcomes has been conducted.

Financing: Federal, state, local and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Improved access to quality early care and education services.
• Development of family resource centers.
• Availability of child care health consultants.
• Increased access to home visiting services and mental health services.
• Increased dental services for low income children.
• Expanded services to children with special needs and their families.
• Convening of parent groups to increase awareness of issues related to school readiness.

Website or Web References:
http://www.regionakids.org/
http://www.sparkle-shine.org/

Name of Initiative: Invest In Children
Location: Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Contact Person: Jill Smialek
E-mail Address: cnjas@cuyahogacounty.us

Governance: Board of County Commissioners

Type of Area Served: Predominately Urban

Approach: This is a comprehensive early childhood system for children prenatal to kindergarten and their families. Services are delivered through cross-agency partnerships and address a broad range of service needs so that all children enter kindergarten healthy, well cared for, and prepared to learn.

Description: Through a public-private partnership, Invest in Children has been able to successfully coordinate a broad range of early care and education services, healthcare, home visitation and family education services through a multi-disciplinary approach that meets the needs of young children and their families. The range of services available has been expanded throughout the initiative in order to increase access and improve quality. As a key component of the initiative, outcomes are regularly monitored with an ongoing, independent evaluation. Through public awareness and policy development, investments in early childhood remain a community priority so that all children reach their full potential.

Financing: Federal, state, local and private foundation funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Home visiting programs have been expanded to serve children and families prenatal to age three.
• More children are identified as having or being at-risk for a development delay or disability earlier in their lives, allowing them to receive the critical intervention they need.
• More children are receiving the recommended number of well-child visits within the first year of life.
• Child care settings have been improved and providers are benefiting from professional development and quality enhancement initiatives.
• Community-wide planning focused on universal access to pre-kindergarten services has been initiated.
• Community members are more aware of the importance of the earliest years of a child’s life.

Website or Web References:
http://www.investinchildren.cuyahogacounty.us/

Name of Initiative: Success By 6
Location: Lane County, Oregon

Contact Person: Eden Cronk
E-mail Address: ecronk@unitedwaylane.org

Governance: Leadership Team

Type of Area Served: Largely Rural

Approach: The initiative is supported by United Way of Lane County and is focused on quality child development for all children birth to age six.

Description: A priority of this initiative is to reduce the incidence of child maltreatment. Major goals established for the initiative are:

• All children are safe.
• All children are healthy. 
• All children enter school ready to learn.
• Families, organizations, businesses and communities are mobilized in a unified effort. 

Research on best practices and national models helped shape directions for the initiative. Another area of focus is on public awareness and education about early childhood development. Key indicators of child health and development are monitored and an evaluation of the media campaign has been conducted.

Financing: Federal and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Established a “Parent HelpLine”.
• Increased public awareness of early childhood development.
• Developed parenting education services.
• Increased developmental screening of young children.
• Established a Speakers Bureau

Website or Web References:
http://www.cherisheverychild.org/

Contact Person: Pat Miiller
E-mail Address: pmiiller@earthlink.net

Governance: Board of Directors

Type of Area Served: Urban, Suburban, Rural

Approach: The Quality Child Care Coalition is a non-profit corporation that brings together local agencies and organizations in the Bucks County area to plan and improve early care and education services.

Description: This initiative is focused on improving the quality of child care programs in the county and enhancing the training of the child care workforce. Goals include increased access to information about child care availability, improved access to quality child care programs, professional development of child care staff, and improved services for children entering the public education system. The number of child care programs engaged in quality improvement is monitored each year.

Financing: Federal, state and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Encouraging active working partners to become advocates and spokespersons for quality early care and education.
• Increased professional development opportunities for the child care workforce.
• Supported NAEYC accreditation of 2 child care programs.
• Supporting collaboration among school districts and private child care for successful kindergarten transition and early intervention.

Website or Web References: Not available.

Contact Person: Laurie Rovin
E-mail Address: lrovin@unitedwaygc.org

Governance: Advisory Council

Type of Area Served: Urban and Rural

Approach: This broad-based coalition is supported by United Way’s Success By 6® to improve child care and early education services in Greenville County.

Description:The initiative grew out of an extensive assessment and planning process for the early childhood services system. It is focused on child care and addresses four goals that include:

• Improving quality of child care programs.
• Increasing availability and affordability of child care.
• Increasing stakeholder education of child care issues.
• Better public policy as it relates to child care issues. 

Financing: Federal, local and private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Receipt of an Early Learning Opportunities Act federal grant.
• Increased participation and awareness of child care issues among business and local government leaders.
• Increased public awareness through the Invest in the Workforce of Tomorrow: Learning Series.
• Improved Child Care Resource & Referral Services.
• Broad-based community partnerships

Website or Web References:
http://www.unitedwaygc.org/
http://www.familiesandwork.org/sparking/greenville.htm

Name of Initiative: The Urban Child Institute
Location: Memphis, Tennessee

Contact Person: Barbara Holden
E-mail Address: bholden@theurbanchildinstitute.org

Governance: Board of Directors

Type of Area Served: Urban

Approach: Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center led the effort to establish a broad-based coalition in order to plan, coordinate, and improve services for children birth to three years old in Memphis and Shelby County. This coalition became a 501c(3) known as the First Years Institute and then merged with The Urban Child Institute in January 2006.

Description: This initiative focuses on improving support for quality child development for children prenatal to five years. Goals of the initiative are:

• Community awareness about the importance of quality early care and the development of children.
• Public policy that supports early development of children.
• Support for caregivers nurturing children in their earliest years.
• Increased access to affordable, quality early care and education.
• Increased access to affordable, quality health care for children.

The coalition worked with the local business community, county and city governments, local organizations and community leaders to develop a strategic plan for building a comprehensive early childhood system of care. Seven implementation teams continue to focus on different aspects of the work outlined in the plan.

Financing: Private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Increased public awareness of the importance of the first few years of life.
• Partnered with county, mayor and businesses to increase number of nationally accredited child care centers.
• Developed comprehensive strategic plan facilitated by a Smart Start Technical Assistance Grant.
• Developed enriched learning environments for young children in area homeless shelters

Website or Web References:
http://www.theurbanchildinstitute.org/

Name of Initiative: Hampton Healthy Families Partnership
Location: Hampton, Virginia

Contact Person: Debbie Russell
E-mail Address: drussel@hampton.gov

Governance: Interdepartmental Executive Team

Type of Area Served: Urban

Approach: This initiative addresses service system redesign in order to better coordinate and integrate a comprehensive array of services to meet the diverse child development and parent education needs of the community.

Description: Hampton Healthy Families Partnership is a team effort in which city and community agencies have joined together with public and private organizations such as hospitals, restaurants, and businesses to help families become healthy, happy and self-sufficient. Community-wide services are developed through an interagency steering committee and delivered by the Hampton Healthy Families Partnership. The service system includes research-based home visiting programs, parent education, early literacy, family support, and health and development services. Along with providing direct services to families and children, Hampton Healthy Families Partnership works to increase investments and early childhood resources in the Hampton area.

Financing: Federal, state, local government, community donations, and private foundation funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• New parents receive screening and information and referral services.
• The rate of child abuse and neglect has been reduced.
• The infant mortality rate has been reduced.
• High percentage (80%) of families engaged in parenting classes complete the class.
• All children in the home visiting program are connected to a medical provider and are up-to-date with their immunizations and well-child visits.
• Hundreds of workshops and multi-session parenting programs are provided annually.
• Focus on serving all families and all children.
• 30,000 of the 35,000 Hampton children under the age of 19 receive at least one service.
• Service delivery system and programs serve as a model for communities around the country.

Website or Web References:
http://www.hampton.va.us/healthyfamilies/

Contact Person: Debbie Ham
E-mail Address: debbie.ham@esd112.org

Governance: Interagency Council

Type of Area Served: Primarily Urban

Approach: The initiative is focused on improved coordination and system redesign and is working to better integrate early childhood services by supporting planning and administrative functions across multiple agencies and organizations.

Description: The initiative maintains a comprehensive online database and coordinates a range of early childhood services through five family resource and support centers serving the county. A system model is utilized to map service system components, including provider support and education; family support and education; community awareness and sustainability; and community collaboration and networking. County-wide assessment of needs and resources is coordinated through the initiative, as is planning to meet identified needs. Local early childhood service providers share service data, budget information and some administrative functions.

Financing: State, private foundation, and federal grant funds support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Development of a “systems plan” for service integration using family resource and support centers as service delivery hubs.
• Development of a public awareness and engagement campaign.
• Online early learning resource directory.
• Online training directory.

Website or Web References:
http://www.selfwa.org/

Name of Initiative: Northwest Early Learning
Location: Northwest Region, Washington

Contact Person: Margy Miller
E-mail Address: mmiller@esd189.org

Governance: Advisory Panel

Type of Area Served: Rural

Approach: This regional initiative is convened by the Northwest Educational Services District in order to support a five-county area in planning and resource development to improve the service system for young children in the region.

Description: The Northwest Washington region adopted a state framework for early childhood systems planning known as the “Kids Matter Framework.” Planning efforts are coordinated with individual county-based planning and focus on social and emotional development, development of quality early learning environments, enhanced parenting skills, and health services. The regional effort works to implement the statewide framework, identify gaps in services, secure resources to enhance the service system, and support public policy and investment to improve early childhood services. Anecdotal evidence indicates increasing awareness and improved service system planning throughout the region. There has been no formal evaluation of the regional effort.

Financing: Federal, state and local funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Sustaining a regional planning structure with active county-based planning groups and a regional advisory board.
  

Website or Web References:
http://www.esd189.org/nwel/index.html
http://www.earlylearning.org/kids-matter?came_from=http://www.earlylearning.org

Name of Initiative: ERASE Barriers to Early Learning
Location: Cabell & Wayne Counties, West Virginia

Contact Person: Shirley Topeka
E-mail Address: stopeka@aol.com

Governance: Interagency Council

Type of Area Served: Largely Rural

Approach: The initiative is focused on enhancing early childhood services and development and maintaining a coordinated cross-agency information and referral system.

Description: The ERASE initiative is a broad-based partnership of local providers of early care and education services, higher education, and parents. It serves to coordinate early childhood services in order to reduce duplication and encourage the sharing of resources. The efforts have been supported by a federal Early Learning Opportunities grant focusing attention on access to services; implementation of a quality early childhood curriculum; completion, adoption and implementation of early childhood program standards; early literacy; child care staff retention; and work toward a statewide reimbursement system based on quality standards.

Financing: Federal, state and local funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Early literacy services are more available.
• Early care and education staffs have become more professionalized.
• Staff turnover has been reduced.
• Parents are more effective, involved, and educated about early childhood development.
• Services provided during non-traditional hours have become more available.
• The number of early childhood programs that are accredited has increased.
• Public awareness of the importance of quality early childhood education has increased.
• Awareness of the economic impact of early childhood education has been enhanced.
  

Website or Web References:
http://www.cabellwayne-youngchild.org/
http://www.educationstartsearly.com/

Contact Person: Sarah Inman
E-mail Address: sarah@browncountyunitedway.org

Governance: Partnership Organization

Type of Area Served: Primarily Urban

Approach: The partnership of community organizations and agencies is supported by the Brown County United Way. The effort is focused on screening at birth, providing information and referral services for young children and promoting a coordinated response to children’s needs.

Description:This initiative is designed to serve all families with newborn babies at birth and a strong relationship with area hospitals provides for initial screening and referral services. Goals of the partnership include:

• Connect with the parents of babies born at Brown County hospitals to determine their needs and strengths.
• Link families to available services in a coordinated fashion and identify service gaps.
• Secure resources to fill service gaps and enhance services through funding, community support, and partnership building

The partnership provides limited care coordination, assessment and referral services based on risk factors identified through interviewing new parents at area hospitals. The partnership reports progress to the Brown County United Way Board of Directors and has plans to monitor key indicators related to early childhood health and development.

Financing: Private funding sources support the initiative.

Major Accomplishments:

• Improved identification of at-risk children and family support needs at the time of birth.
• Improved information and referral services for young children and their families.
• Increased awareness of the need for home visiting services.
• Enhanced communication and collaboration among local human service providers.

Website or Web References:
http://www.browncountyunitedway.org/impact/cpc.html