Early Learning
Regional Coalitions
Welcome!
Early Learning
Regional Coalitions
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Welcome
Updates
SLC Project Purpose
SLC Recommendations
State & Local Coordination
RECOMMENDATIONS
Overview
April 16, 2013
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.
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:
o The Washington Early Learning Partnership
o ELAC
o 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
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Steering Committee
Angela Abrams Rebecca Timmen –
Bianca Bailey –
Bob Butts –
Debbie Ham –
Deeann Puffert –
Elizabeth Bonbright –
Jodi Becker-Green –
Judy Nelson –
Karen Walker–
Kathy Goebel –
Kelli Bohanon –
Leslie Dozono –
Lois Martin –
Molly Boyajian,
Paula Bond –
Sage MacLeod –
Samantha Bowen –
Sandra Szambelan –
Sandy Nelson –
Shaine Schramling –
Shanthi Ragu Sue Winn –
Susan Yang –
Yolanda Esquivel –
Department of Early Learning, Early Achievers
Department of Health
Parent Ambassadors (South Central)
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
SELF (Southwest Washington)
Child Care Resources (King County)
Child Care Aware of Washington
Department of Social & Health Services
Pierce County Libraries (Pierce)
Department of Early Learning, ESIT
State Board of Community & Technical Colleges
Department of Early Learning
Children’s Alliance
ELAC, Child Care (King)
Thrive by Five Washington
Tacoma Public Schools (Pierce)
San Juan County ECEAP (Northwest)
Walla Walla Valley Community College (Southeast)
ESD 101 (Northeast)
ESD 113 (West Central)
Parenting Matters Foundation (Peninsulas)
University Child Development School (King)
ELAC, Child Care (Northwest)
Foundation for Early Learning (King)
Washington State Migrant Council (Southeast)
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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
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Process
 Describe the Current Structure
 Best Practices Review
o (Arizona, North Carolina and Oklahoma)
 Outreach to Identify Barriers and Opportunities
o Interviews & Focus groups (150 stakeholders)
o Surveys (175 responses)
 Cultural Competence Reviews
 Draft Recommendations
o Two-tiered Surveys (223 responses)
 Refinements Recommendations
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Questions on Process?
Is the process followed clear?
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Recommendations - Structures
At each of the three levels,
similar consideration support
the structure:
• Individual Structure
• Membership
• Guiding Agreements
• Coordination
Relationships
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Recommendations – Varying Engagement
Broad Stakeholder Engagement
o Revision of seminal documents
Consultation Process
o Selection of strategies
Targeted Feedback & Regular Communication
Process
o Advancing policies, initiatives
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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
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Recommendations
Overarching
1. Adopt a Stakeholder
Engagement Framework
2. Set a Few Statewide
Performance Goals
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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
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Recommendations
ELAC
6. Strengthen ELAC’s advisory function
7. Clarify ELAC’s guiding documents and
processes
8. Expand ELAC membership
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Recommendations
Early Learning Regional Coalitions
9. Continue to strengthen
coalition capacities
10. Increase engagement of
diverse stakeholders
11. Strengthen joint regionalstate action
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What’s Next?
• Review and approval at all
three levels
• Refinement of
Implementation Plans
• ACTION!
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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?
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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?
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