The Build Initiative Building Early Learning Systems in the States

Public Policy is stuck in the 19 th Century Brain growth versus public expenditures on children Cumulative percent of public dollars spent on children Percent of total brain growth

The Policy Challenge  When parents of young children work, their children need safe, affordable care that provides opportunity for children to learn and develop  High quality costs more than most parents can afford  Care for infants costs more than for three and four-year-olds  Cognitive dissonance: Parents say their arrangements are OK

Public Supports  Early education tied to school readiness  Programs that benefit both low-income and middle-class families  Voluntary participation  Greater support for programs for three and four-year-olds

Public Ambivalence Majority of mothers of young children are worker Public still believes mothers should be home when children are very young

Need to Reframe the Question Given the fact that many children are in the care of others for part of their day, how do we make it as good as it can be?

The Build Initiative Multi-state partnership Goal: children who are safe, healthy, eager to learn and ready to succeed

The Challenge Programs, policies and services exist but… –They operate in isolation (the silo effect) –Sometimes operate at cross purposes –Frequently lack resources to meet critical needs –Duplication of effort?

The Build Initiative Mission Help each state build a coordinated system of programs, policies and services that is responsive to the needs of families, careful in the use of private and public resources, and effective in preparing our youngest children (birth to five) for a successful future.

Role of The Build Initiative –A catalyst for change –A source of ideas and funds –A pathway to a deeper national understanding of early learning issues

Who Funds The Build Initiative? The Early Childhood Funders’ Collaborative (ECFC) –Consortium of national and local foundations established in 1995 –Provides networking, info sharing, and strategic grantmaking opportunities to its members

Build Initiative Hallmarks Public/private partnership: –Include state agency officials, business and community leaders, parents, advocates and others who work with children –Funding for planning, convening, system analysis

State Grantees Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey and Ohio, Pennsylvania

Funds are used to support states’ efforts to: –Reform existing state systems –Test new models –Connect programs and services –Help ensure that all young children have access to early learning systems

Examples of work underway: –Building broad-based coalitions –Gathering and analyzing data –Designing a public engagement campaign –Implementing cross-program professional development –Strengthening linkages between state and local service delivery systems

Build Learning Community Expanded Learning Community in May 2003 RFP sent to key contacts in all states Selected 4 learning partner states –Hawaii –Michigan –Oklahoma –Washington

Build’s Communications Plan Designed to increase the visibility of the need for early learning systems Highlights work in the selected states Build website:

Build Evaluation Child and Family Policy Center in Iowa is the evaluation firm Each Build grantee also has a state evaluation partner

Build Evaluation Assists states and funders in learning more about: –Successful state level strategies –Measuring the results of systems- building efforts –Role of private funders as catalysts for change

Lessons Learned A modest invest in planning goes a long way Public will building and mobilization a high priority in all states All states have defined early learning to include health, human services, and early care and education

The Build Initiative –