1 Discovery Contributions to Recent EC Policy Results– The View from State-Level Grantees and Stakeholders Prepared by the Center for Assessment & Policy Development for the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund – April 2008

22 Discovery Contributions to Recent EC Policy Results– The View from State-Level Grantees and Stakeholders Report of Findings: April 2008

Overview of this report Purpose Report “Road Map” 3

44 SUSTAINED FOCUS ON EC AND CAPACITY TO INFLUENCE POLICY With many communities With several statewide organizations With state agencies & initiatives Critical Mass Political Momentum Cumulative Results Enhanced Capacities the Memorial Fund APPROACH & STRATEGIES

5 SHORT-TERM RESULTS FROM INITIATIVE CAPACITY BUILDING INTERVENTIONS With communities With statewide organizations With state system entities Collaborative processes & community infrastructure Networks & partnerships Organizational processes & infrastructure System building processes & infrastructure

66 the Memorial Fund STRATEGIES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING With communities With statewide organizations With state agencies and initiatives Small grants TA/Tools Convenings Liaisons Website & listserv Grant support Convenings TA Staff leadership Facilitation support Matching funds

7 THE DISCOVERY STATEWIDE AND REGIONAL GRANTEES

The Discovery Statewide and Regional Grantees: Who They Are & What They Do 8

9 Who are the Statewide & Regional Grantees Considered Critical to Discovery? Bridgeport Hospital ChildFirst program Connecticut Association for Human Services Connecticut Center for School Change Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance CHDI Early Childhood DataCONNections Connecticut Parent Power Connecticut Voices for Children Danbury Children First League of Women Voters Community Conversations Local Initiatives Support Corporation Meriden Children First Parent Trust Fund United Way of Connecticut Yale Child Study Research Center

10 What is the Focus of Work of the Grantees? Among the 14 grantees, work was mainly focused on: –Early care and education –Health/mental health –Parent engagement/leadership –School system reform –Civic Engagement

11 What Strategies are Used by the Grantees? Among the 14 grantees, a diverse set of strategies were reported: –Technical assistance to communities –Data/Research –Advocacy –Parent leadership and training –Parent/Community organizing –Supporting communication, coordination and collaboration among statewide organizations –Facilities improvement and development –Developing and replicating a service model

12 How Closely do These Grantees Believe Their Work is Aligned with Discovery? These core grantees see their work as closely aligned with the Discovery initiative More grantees report being closely aligned to the strategies and values of Discovery (such as parent engagement and collaboration) than to the four objectives

13 How is the Work of these Grantees linked with the Discovery Communities? 13 grantees have worked directly with communities receiving Discovery grants 12 grantees were linked to communities receiving Discovery grants through membership in a common organization (the Early Childhood Alliance) 9 grantees expressed a strong desire to work more closely with communities

14 How is the Work of these Grantee Organizations Linked with Parents? Though most statewide and regional grantee organizations have had some contact with parents, few organizations work with parents directly on a regular basis However, two of the organizations that are focused on parent organizing and leadership have reported increased capacity to do this work

15 How are the Grantees Connected with Each Other in Their Work? All 14 statewide and regional grantees identify at least one other state-level grantee as a partner in their work 9 grantees identify 4 or more other grantees as key partners

Supporting the Statewide and Regional Grantees — Strategies & Results 16

17 What are the Memorial Fund’s Major Strategies for Supporting Grantee Work? Grants Incubator support for new organizations Technical assistance to several key organizations Occasional convenings of grantee organizations Staff availability and engagement

18 What do Grantees report as the Contribution of the Memorial Fund to their Capacities? More staff with focused expertise Stronger partnerships among organizations and with new organizations Stronger connections to communities Increased funding Improved technology Creating an appetite for data

19 What do Grantees Report as Critical Memorial Fund Supports for their Work? Helping to leverage funds & other resources Providing knowledge, insight, advice Supporting communications & dissemination Sharing contacts & providing access Attending key meetings & events Providing visibility to the work

20 What do Grantees Report as Critical Supports for Connections and Collaboration? Encouraging contacts & relationships Providing opportunities for collaboration with communities and each other Convening diverse groups Providing space/food/assistance with arrangements for meetings Providing technical assistance

21 What do Grantees Report as Critical in the Memorial Fund’s Approach? Relationships with staff are key Flexibility Sustained attention to ECE issues Consistent commitment to core values and goals

Early Results from Work of the Statewide & Regional Grantees – Their Perspective 22

23 Summary: Results through 2006 The work of the statewide and regional grantees has contributed to: Stronger connections between organizations working on early childhood issues Increased capacity for data collection and dissemination and policy research Increased capacity for grassroots organizing Broader base of attention and support for early childhood education and related issues

24 Stronger connections between grantee organizations working on early childhood issues Statewide and regional grantees report closer connections to each other Staff changes and new staff have led to new opportunities for collaboration Grantees report more coordination around research, analysis, policy proposals and developing policy strategies

25 Continued strong capacity for data collection/dissemination and policy research Data collection and research expertise is well represented among the grantees Grantees report that their work is more relevant and responsive to user needs Data from grantees are used to inform the work of the ECE Education Cabinet Data collection and policy research capacity is recognized and valued by the grantees

26 Increased capacity for grassroots organizing Statewide and regional grantees report new momentum around parent and community organizing Grantees report increased capacity to do organizing and policy work

27 Broader base of attention and support for early childhood issues Grantees report increased awareness of and focus on early childhood issues Grantees are encouraged by the positive policy developments of the past several years

28 CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLICY – THE 2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Overview of 2007 Legislative Session ECE Outcomes 29

30 Results from the 2007 Legislative Session Related to Early Care & Education $56.2 million dollars of new money for SFY 08 and SFY 09 Early Childhood Education Cabinet goals Memorial Fund partnership with Department of Education and Cabinet to support local community planning for young children Memorial Fund matching funds for new investment for parent leadership training through the Parent Trust Fund

31 Putting the Numbers in Context 2007 Legislative Session – Major New Investments New dollars, more preschool slots Increased preschool subsidy rates for State Funded Centers Increased access to Birth to 3 Funding for the Parent Trust Fund Funding for a quality rating system for childcare centers Funding for linking Head Start to existing early childhood programs More funding for ECE Cabinet More funds for facilities

32 Putting the Numbers in Context 2007 Legislative Session – Flat Funding in Other Areas Funding in FY 08 not much higher than in 2002 = reduction in inflation-adjusted dollars No expansion of Care 4 Kids (child care subsidy program) Flat funding for Head Start Flat funding for Family Resource Centers No new quality enhancement funding

33 State Stakeholder Perspectives on Memorial Fund Contributions to Legislative Results

34 Stakeholders’ Perspective- The Political Environment All felt the environment for ECE issues in CT has improved since 2001 Particular areas that are viewed as having improved : –More state level political support –Greater awareness about the issues

35 Stakeholders’ Perspective- Value of the Memorial Fund Approach Long-term commitment to the issue Knowledge and information Neutral, objective voice Building relationships Statewide approach

36 Stakeholders’ Perspective - Contributions of the Work with State Agencies and Initiatives Providing leadership Leveraging resources, providing matching funds Building state-level capacity

37 Stakeholders’ Perspective - Contributions of the Work of Statewide Organizations ECE advocacy organizations seen as well organized to work on these issues Advocates seen as key capacity in the state for moving the work forward Most of the organizations cited as strong advocates and champions for the work are Memorial Fund partners or grantees

38 Stakeholders’ Perspective - Statewide Organizations Making Contributions Early Childhood Alliance Connecticut Commission on Children Connecticut Voices for Children Connecticut Parent Power Connecticut Association for Human Services Child Health and Development Institute 38

39 Stakeholders’ Perspective - Contributions of the Work with Communities Capacity building Replicable programs, systems Momentum and awareness around ECE Local wins Increased access to legislators

State Stakeholder Perspectives on Continuing Challenges in ECE Policy 40

41 Stakeholders’ Perspective- Parent Voice Advocacy groups and ECE providers are seen as driving the work Parent voice is not yet significant in the state policy work CT Parent Power is seen as an effective advocacy organization

42 Stakeholders’ Perspective- Challenges Going Forward Legislator perceptions that ECE now adequately addressed Competing issues Lack of strong voter interest Lack of common agenda among advocates

43 Stakeholders’ Perspective- What’s Needed to Sustain the Work (1) A shared vision Coordinated system Community Capacity and Infrastructure Community impact on state policy Evidence of results from public investments

44 Stakeholders’ Perspective- What’s Needed to Sustain the Work (2) More diverse champions Messages that engage the voting public More active parent voice

SUMMARY AND IMPLICATIONS 45

46 Summary- Developing Capacities among Statewide Organizations Grantees and other stakeholders reported the most growth in capacity in the following areas: Connections between organizations Capacity for data collection and research Broader support for early childhood issues

47 Summary- Needed Capacities in the State Statewide grantee organizations & stakeholders both reported the following areas as needing to be strengthened: Coordinated vision among advocates Stronger community connection to the work at the state level Stronger parent voice at the state level Continued focus of legislators on EC issues

Summary-- Contributions to 2007 Legislative Results Memorial Fund approach to the work Memorial Fund leadership in state policy work Work of the statewide organizational grantees Capacity-building work in communities 48

Ongoing Challenges Facing ECE Proponents Sustaining momentum into the 2009 session Building public will Continued/increasing public investment Amplifying parent voice and leadership 49

50 Continuing Discovery Initiative Strategies Leveraging public funds with private investments Enhanced investment in and support for communities and statewide partners Grant support for a communications campaign Leadership

51 Looking Ahead to the Next Evaluation Questions How will the Discovery capacity- building strategies contribute to: further changes in local and state policies and practices? strengthening of community and state capacities to sustain attention to early childhood issues?