Waco foundation Efforts to improve Early Childhood Development

1. Waco foundation Efforts to improve Early Childhood Development Presentation for United Ways June 24, 2010

2. Focus of Presentation • Early Childhood Framework • Initial Planning Work • Lessons Learned • Current Status • Specific review of Early Childhood Quality of Life Index

3. Early Childhood Framework • Where we began in October 2008 • Interest in determining a way to impact early childhood in a meaningful way • Cost effectiveness of investment • Foundation for improving education • Efforts to plan for early childhood were incomplete • Proposal to implement “Touchpoints” proposal • Smart Start child care collaboration struggling • Two long supported projects had operating problems • TalithaKoum • AVANCE Waco

4. Early Childhood Framework Initial Activities Grant of $85,000 for planning activities • Contract with TECEC- early childhood audit ($10,000) • Director of Special Projects - coordinate Touchpoints collaborative/develop plan for improving local early childhood (.25) or roughly $18,000 • Develop understanding of current system and structure • Mapping of children and childcare needs • Mapping of current childcare structure • Hire expert child development consultants to evaluate and make recommendations on stability for Avance/TalithaKoum ($40,000) • Partial operating support for TalithaKoum during evaluation ($25,000)

5. Early Childhood Framework • Quantitative Analysis of Early Childhood Infrastructure - $10,000 (was adjusted to 15,500 for Qualitative) • Training and education for Early Childhood Collaborations - $10,000 (Smart Start and Touchpoints) • Special consultants to evaluate Avance/TalithaKoum - up to $40,000 (was adjusted to $14,500) • $25,000 as a partial sponsor of TalithaKoum challenge grant (Was adjusted to $45000)

6. Early Childhood Framework At the Same Time: (2008) Community Visioning Process – Planning Process Yielded central goals Mayor Championed Plan for Education (required that effort begin at birth) Community Foundation asked to serve on Planning Team

7. Initial Planning Work 2009

8. Initial Planning Work 2009 • Avance • New Executive Director hired (Kretcha Roldan-Rodriguez) • Received Early Head Start grant ($250,000) • Board has received board training and strategic planning from Dallas Center for Nonprofit Management

9. Initial Planning Work 2009 TalithaKoum • Received organizational assessment from Dallas Center for Nonprofit Management • Received program evaluation assessment from TECEC research director • $45000 in operating support • Waco Foundation has good information about TalithaKoum’s cost effectiveness and sustainability

10. Initial Planning Work 2009 • Central planning activities • Smart Start Child Care Collaborative received board training; in process of restructuring their board • ITERS evaluation training for child care agencies • Early Childhood Learning Circle (Avance, TalithaKoum, Smart Start, Family Abuse Center, Kids & Co, Restoration Haven) training and central support • Touchpoints training (WF participated) • Scholarships for 2 local people to attend Birth to Three National Conference in Dallas to investigate evidence based curricula that address Waco’s early childhood needs (encouraged a total of 10 to attend) • WF identified community foundations and other groups that have developed successful early childhood initiatives (as well as potential funders)

11. Initial Planning Work 2009 One Indicator for Early Childhood Quality of Life that can be isolated by zip codes and addressed: 40% QOL for McLennan County QOL by zip 272 page report of data: planning and grantwriting Local ISDs Local nonprofits Healthcare Data and focus groups identified key issues: Teen pregnancy and low level of prenatal care Quality child care Resources and information for caregivers (not all are parents) Shows how resources can be focused and appropriate targets

12. Initial Planning Work 2009 • Surprising Focus Group Findings • Low income Hispanic parents identified Hispanic health care workers as barriers in the health care system • Clergy said that ability to develop concept of trusting God related to early childhood experiences • Over 3000 grandparents assume some childcare responsibilities and feel unprepared • Many great grassroots efforts taking place that are not widely known

13. Lessons Learned from Initial Work

14. Lessons Learned • No/weak infrastructure for early childhood • Child care • Health Care • Special Needs • Other Special Interests • Most children are not in child care • Child care organizations for profit/nonprofit • Child care workforce – unaware of evidenced based practices, learning networks, business management skills • Difficulty in relating to sustainability, cost effectiveness, long range planning

15. Round Two – December 2009

16. December 2009 – Round Two • Marketing materials for Early Childhood QOL study • User friendly • Promote awareness of information/use of report • Convene interested parties • Respond to information (meetings to address complex issues) • Determine potential partnerships • Determine appropriate role for Waco Foundation, if any • Pursue central funding opportunities • Pew Charitable Trust Home Visitation Research • Stimulus Funds • TRIAD Funds

17. December 2009 – Round Two • Potential Area: Teen Pregnancy/Pre-Natal Care • Some zips show high need: about 300 births annually • Family Health Center – potential partner • Sees all low income births • Interested in family literacy • Donor has expressed interest in outreach • Planned Parenthood and Crisis Pregnancy Center • VA Hospital • Has located returning female veterans in high need zips • Has research capabilities needed for PEW and Family Nurse Partners

18. Possible Next Steps • Potential Area: Home Visitation/Parental Involvement • Existing Parents as Teachers Program in WISD • Schools have funds that can support home visitation programs for young children • Several local businesses have family-friendly practices that can be replicated • Other possible programs with good evidence of efficacy • Total of 300 births (manageable number)

19. Possible Next Steps • Quality Child Care • Workforce/Smart Start - $450,000 in 2010 for quality • Must spend so fast, no time or resources to plan • Potential Project: Infant Room Makeover • (possible partnership with Junior League?/local business?) • Waco Chamber interested in examining • Promotion of quality • Special services for child care (for profits) • HR group • Leader’s Circle - for profit day cares

20. Possible Next Steps • Social Marketing Campaign • Many parents would make better decisions with better information • Determine need for central marketing campaign • Awareness of brain development • Benefits of reading to babies • How to stimulate brain development

21. Current Status • Need to market information in Early Childhood Study to Community • $20,000 for marketing (design and printing) • Convene interested parties to deliver information • Complete by end of January • Next step for community: Respond to study with a plan • Inventory of Parent Outreach and Home visitation programs ($7500 to pay students) • Marketing Study for reaching low income parents/caregivers (Social Work grad student with marketing background) • Neutral convener to call parties together and respond (need funds for expert consultants/grantwriters – $12,500) • Health/Social Services • Business • Child Care • Education • Parents • Next step for Waco Foundation: Define Role • No central plan will be developed without Waco Foundation • Project is large and consuming • Other Foundations expressed interested in partnering • Opportunity to invest in innovative, targeted, cost-effective approach to poverty • High Potential for outside funding

22. Current Status • Waco Foundation still has not launched formal “initiative” • Not sure of staffing required (full time coordinator at minimum, but will we manage) • Report is very rich but not usable by general public • Still more planning work to do