ARRA Proposal
Communications Initiative
Board of Early Education and Care
March 9, 2010
Early Education and Care System
Components
 Informed Families and Public (FS, C, I)
 Finance (Q, FS, WF, I)
EEC Strategic Directions:
Q = Quality
FS = Family support, access, and affordability
WF = Workforce
C = Communications
I = Infrastructure
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Overview of Proposal
Of the $23.9M available through CCDF ARRA funds, $1.2M
must be spent on quality improvements for infant and
toddlers.
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This proposal is to use up to $298,500 of those quality
funds to create a statewide communication
infrastructure, with key partners (using collective
resources), to raise awareness regarding the
importance of the earliest years that provides leverage
for existing local community efforts.
Alignment with Priorities
Alignment with the Board of Early Education and Care Policy
Considerations for 2010 and Strategic Plan
 Strategic Direction: Communication: Create and implement an
external and internal communications strategy that advocates for and
conveys the value of early education and care to stakeholders,
consumers, and the general public and positions EEC as a national
education leader.
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Feedback from July 2009 Board Retreat; the Board Indicated Strong
Support for the Following Policy Consideration for FY2010:
 Build a statewide internal and external communication strategy
that includes the role of families (and partnerships with families)
in the development of children as infants, toddlers, preschoolers
and out of school time, and connection to public schools. Frame
communications to align with the strategic plan and Governor’s
Readiness Action Agenda report.
Alignment with Priorities (continued)
Alignment with ARRA Funding
 These funds would be invested in a manner that does not result in
unsustainable continuing commitments after the funding expires and
will be closely monitored.
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Alignment with Multiple Stakeholder’s Feedback and Efforts
 The Birth to School Age Task Force recommended using funds to
support a communications initiative that focused on the importance of
the earliest years.
 During seven statewide community-level Birth to Three forums one of
the most frequently reported themes was the need for increased
communication that focuses on the importance of quality early
education and care.
 Aligns with the United Way’s Impact Area around Healthy Child
Development as well as multiple community-level efforts (Talk, Read,
Play; Thrive in Five, Mother Goose on the Loose, Cherish Every Child
etc.).
Partnerships
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
EEC has had preliminary discussions with the United Way
regarding a strategic partnership that leverages collective
resources to raise awareness around the importance of the
earliest years (including quality early education and care).
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This communication effort would take into account the
multiple on-going community-level efforts across the state
and would aim to serve as an overarching infrastructure that
these local efforts/messages can align with and connect to.
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Multiple audiences would be targeted for direct consumer
education and communication, including but not limited to
families, workforce, field, legislature etc.
Next Steps
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Identify Any Additional Interested Key Partners: at the state
and local level.
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Continued Planning with Key Partners: including community
partners; EEC will develop a greater understanding of
associated fund use and timeline to share with EEC Board.

Identify Key Core Messages:
 Messaging will be focused and will be targeted to get
specialized information to families, policy makers and
others so each group is aware of next actionable steps they
can take.
 Express key components of the system of early education
and care.
 Translate the science into what people need to know to
support key messages.
 Clarify focus of messaging – children need to be thought of
within the context of their community and family.
Next Steps
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
Research Methods for Effectively Reaching Families with
Children 0-8 Years Old (e.g. consider use of social networking
media to expand audience ).

Initiative Will Need Credibility Through Branding
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Determine How to Measure Impact of Initiative
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Implementation:
Depending on the structure of this initiative (in-house etc.) a
competitive RFP may be necessary to select a vendor; more
information will be provided).
Preliminary Budget and Timeline
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
EEC is still working to understand the associated breakdown of
costs for this initiative, collective resources available and the
associated timeline. More information will be shared once
available.
 Additional partnership resources are likely to leverage
these funds.
 EEC proposes the use of up to $298,500 of ARRA funds for
this proposal.

ARRA funds must be spent by September 2011 and this
initiative would align with that timeline. More information will
be shared once available.