Idaho Infant Toddler Program and the Playing Well Together Idaho Infant Toddler Program and the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant

If You Hang Out Enough You Might Start Looking the Same

No, Really. . ..

Common Goals ECCS Planning phase goal: To develop a comprehensive strategic plan that will recognize and support the existing system of care and learning, and integrate health, social and educational programs and financing mechanisms into a system that reflects and supports community efforts and interests.

Goal 1: Facilitate the activities of the Early Care and Learning Cross Systems Task Force which will establish an ongoing communication network between state agencies, policymakers, families, stakeholders and communities. . .

Yikes! Sounded a lot like the mission of ICC

Goal 2: Develop multi-agency state partnerships among critical stakeholders

Hmmm. . . This goals sounded familiar too! Identify existing interagency agreements/formal partnerships Formalize state and regional partnerships Review strategic plans of other org. Contact, meet, survey identified early care and learning coalitions/org Review stakeholders. . .

Goal 3: Compile resources and identify information on the current best practices in early childhood systems building

Goal 4: Provide a comprehensive statewide mapping of existing early care and learning programs and resources, as well as existing gaps

GOAL 5: Support partnerships to align current initiatives in the support of a comprehensive system of early childhood professional development

Can You Say . . . CSPD

Goal 6: To develop a powerful message to increase public awareness of quality early care and learning programs as a critical par of the foundation to promote healthy families and communities

That Too? ICC and Infant Toddler Program have public awareness responsibilities

Goal 7: Align policy and funding streams to develop and support integrated early care and learning system development Wow, we could use that, too!!!

We Decided To Just Jump In

The Early Childhood Coordinating Council –EC3 In 2006, the Interagency Coordinating Council and the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Task Force consolidated their efforts under a single council with representation to meet the requirements of IDEA and the expanded role as advisory to the ECCS grant activities

Staffing and Funding The ECCS grant project coordinator is supervised by the Part C Coordinator The ECCS Coordinator Executive Director of the EC3 Staffs the Council and supports the Regional Early Childhood Committees Funding is braided

It Is Really An Issue Of Time Management

Efficiencies and Collaboration In the past 6 months the Head Start Collaboration Council has also merged Representation to meet Head Start Reauthorization early childhood council requirements Transition Process to realign support staff assignments Facilitates common goals and projects

What’s In It For Me?

Benefits To Part C Increased, dedicated staff and leadership for council and regional committees Broader base of stakeholders to facilitate inclusion and linkages to child care providers, legislature, early childhood expertise/professional organizations Increased visibility in early childhood community and advocacy efforts

Benefits to Part C, continued Support for projects like compiling and distributing PA packets to physicians including information on: Medical Home and e.i. Autism screening and identification Plagiocephaly remolding and torticollis Central directory (211 CareLine) Coordinated Fund Allocation to Initiatives that Serve Families of Young Children Updated, enhanced, and maintain Early Childhood Information Clearinghouse

Benefits to ECCS Relatively stable administrative home (With lots of bureaucratic hoops!) Federal and State statutory authority for EC3 sustainability In “inside” line to promote/facilitate change in child care, Medicaid, and behavioral health programs Collegial support

Shared Future Plans Advance Medical Home Improve physician screening and referral practices Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Promotion of inclusive practices Professional development Interagency agreement updates

Shared Future Plans/Ongoing Work Early Learning Guidelines Improved quality of child care Increased access to CHIP/Medicaid Pre-school opportunities to minimize service gaps at age 3 And more

We Don’t Just Play Well. . . We Are Family