Comprehensive Early Childhood Systems

With a coordinated system delivering information to parents in a timely manner, we can help at-risk children get the best possible start in life. To be effective, this system must respond to the often complex developmental needs of young children and their families.

To create a comprehensive early childhood system, the Ounce works with government agencies, parents, service providers, advocates, philanthropists, and business and civic leaders to identify services that families need. We develop strategies to overcome existing gaps and barriers, promote better service coordination, address training and workforce development issues, and make funding streams work together so that services are delivered efficiently.

Illinois

The Illinois Early Learning Council, co-chaired by past Ounce president Harriet Meyer, works to establish a comprehensive early learning system.

The Ounce coordinates the Birth to Five Project, a collaborative effort to develop a more accessible statewide early childhood system. The project goals are to maximize existing funding, reduce duplication in services, and identify gaps and barriers that hinder families' ability to support their young children. The project is part of the multi-state Build Initiative.

As part of the Birth to Five Project, the Ounce produces the "Birth to Five Program Inventory of Government-Funded Programs and Initiatives in Illinois for Expecting Families and Young Children." This inventory , compiled as a resource for local program directors, administrators, policy makers, healthcare professionals, the public, and more, offers details on government-funded programs and initiatives designed to improve the quality of life for expectant parents and children under the age of five and their families in Illinois. These include WIC, child care assistance, home visiting, Early Head Start, Head Start, Preschool for All, Prevention Initiative, All Kids, and more. Information in the inventory includes program and service descriptions, eligibility requirements and goals, public funding levels, and contact information for the administering government agencies.

The Ounce's systems-building work in Illinois is supported by the McCormick Foundation, the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, the Grand Victoria Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, Pre-K Now, The Boeing Company, the Gustafson Family Foundation, and Family Focus, Inc.

Other States

The Ounce's national policy consultation team mentors advocates in other states to expand and improve existing early childhood systems. For example, the Ounce helped coordinate discussions with government leaders in Kansas that led to the creation of $11 million in new funding for early childhood programs in 2008.



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