Early Learning Regional Coalitions

1. Early Learning Regional Coalitions Welcome!

2. Early Learning Regional Coalitions • Welcome • Updates • SLC Project Purpose • SLC Recommendations

3. April 16, 2013 State & Local Coordination RECOMMENDATIONS Overview

4. Origins • Historic work of local and regional coalitions • State Early Learning Plan Strategies #21, 34 & 35 • Create formal pathways for parent participation • Build Statewide Infrastructure for Partnerships & Mobilization • Strengthen Public Awareness and Commitment • Federal Grant Commissioning States to Articulate How Systems Will Be Strengthened across Localities, Region and State Project Purpose: Strengthen how different parts of early learning system work together to support children. In particular, improve coordination and communication between state, regional and local partners in ways that will enhance our work in the long term.

5. Project Objectives • Create a structure where unique community voice and needs can be balanced with the desire for consistent access and quality as initiatives are designed and implemented • Build on coordination bodies that are working: • The Washington Early Learning Partnership • ELAC • Early Learning Regional Coalitions  • Strengthen coordination among independent early learning sub-systems • Avoid creation of new and overlapping initiative structures • Build a continuous quality improvement cycle into the system

6. Steering Committee Angela Abrams - Department of Early Learning, Early Achievers Rebecca Timmen – Department of Health Bianca Bailey – Parent Ambassadors (South Central) Bob Butts – Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Ham – SELF (Southwest Washington) Deeann Puffert – Child Care Resources (King County) Elizabeth Bonbright – Child Care Aware of Washington Jodi Becker-Green – Department of Social & Health Services Judy Nelson – Pierce County Libraries (Pierce) Karen Walker– Department of Early Learning, ESIT Kathy Goebel – State Board of Community & Technical Colleges Kelli Bohanon – Department of Early Learning Leslie Dozono – Children’s Alliance Lois Martin – ELAC, Child Care (King) Molly Boyajian, Thrive by Five Washington Paula Bond – Tacoma Public Schools (Pierce) Sage MacLeod – San Juan County ECEAP (Northwest) Samantha Bowen – Walla Walla Valley Community College (Southeast) Sandra Szambelan – ESD 101 (Northeast) Sandy Nelson – ESD 113 (West Central) ShaineSchramling– Parenting Matters Foundation (Peninsulas) Shanthi Ragu - University Child Development School (King) Sue Winn – ELAC, Child Care (Northwest) Susan Yang – Foundation for Early Learning (King) Yolanda Esquivel – Washington State Migrant Council (Southeast)

7. Principles for Recommended Structure • Has high potential to increase benefit and improve outcomes • Improves effectiveness and efficiency • Promotes use of data to improve accountability and program quality • Advances equity and raises the bar • Is doable, feasible and builds on strengths • Uses the power of combining state guidance with local flexibility • Solidifies and accelerates gains • Fosters high performing state and local partnerships that work together to improve results • Brings the right people to the table at all levels

8. Process • Describe the Current Structure  • Best Practices Review • (Arizona, North Carolina and Oklahoma) • Outreach to Identify Barriers and Opportunities • Interviews & Focus groups (150 stakeholders) • Surveys (175 responses) • Cultural Competence Reviews • Draft Recommendations • Two-tiered Surveys (223 responses) • Refinements Recommendations

9. Questions on Process?  Is the process followed clear?

10. Recommendations - Structures At each of the three levels, similar consideration support the structure: • Individual Structure • Membership • Guiding Agreements • Coordination Relationships

11. Recommendations – Varying Engagement Broad Stakeholder Engagement • Revision of seminal documents Consultation Process • Selection of strategies Targeted Feedback &Regular Communication Process • Advancing policies, initiatives

12. Recommendations – Functions & Roles Functions: The main areas of activity carried out in the system: Cross-cutting function: • Build relationships & consider stakeholder Input Individually-varying functions: • Set Standards, goals and outcomes • Choose strategies and priorities • Ensure funding and policy support • Implement and expand services and programs • Build public understanding and public will • Be accountable for achieving outcomes Roles: Assigned responsibilities for each of the functional areas

13. Recommendations Overarching • Adopt a Stakeholder Engagement Framework • Set a Few Statewide Performance Goals

14. Recommendations Early Learning Partnership 3. Invite DOH and DSHS to the Partnership 4. Continue annual priorities & connect to ELAC and Coalitions 5. Continue to enhance state to regional communication

15. RecommendationsELAC 6. Strengthen ELAC’s advisory function 7. Clarify ELAC’s guiding documents and processes 8. Expand ELAC membership

16. Recommendations Early Learning Regional Coalitions 9. Continue to strengthen coalition capacities 10. Increase engagement of diverse stakeholders 11. Strengthen joint regional-state action

17. What’s Next? • Review and approval at all three levels • Refinement of Implementation Plans • ACTION!

18. Questions for You • Do these recommendations seem on target? • What will you need (actions, resources, support from state partners) to share and adopt these recommendations with your coalition? • What will you need (actions, resources, support from state partners) in order to name a “regional advisor” to ELAC by July 1? 

19. Questions for Your Coalition • What would this mean for your coalition in the form of modified or expanded activity? • What will you need to make it happen? • How well does the Draft Implementation Plan align to what you will need to do?