A WORK IN PROGRESS Kansas Department of Health and Environment Kansas State Department of Education Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Region VII Department of Health and Human Services Administration of Children and Families

A Little Background The Alignment Process Progress to Date Opportunity to Review and Discuss Requirement Grids and Self Assessments Presentation Overview

Program policies, administration, and leadership promote program evaluation and system change efforts. Public policies promote the use of Recommended Practices. DEC Recommended Practices Connection:

Connecting Families to Community Resources: With family permission, parent educators consult with other organizations serving the family in order to coordinate services and optimally support the family. Community Leadership and Involvement: Program staff work on a regular basis with other local providers of services and programs to address the needs of the population the program serves. PAT staff serves on governing boards or leadership councils of other community agencies that provide services for families with young children. Parents as Teachers Quality Standards Connection

KANSAS

The Partner Programs and Geographic Availability:

StateLocal Interagency Agreements Coordinating Councils Screening, Referral and Follow Up MOAInteragency Work Requirements

Headed in the Same Direction

Facilitate the development of a cooperative relationship enhancing coordination among the Partners The new MOA

Confidentiality Parent/Family Coordinated Local Access to Programs Screening, Referral and Follow Up Transition Data The new MOA Operating Principles Address:

Rules….

Memorandums of Agreement Most Likely Shared vision for evidence-based services and a comprehensive system Identified common program components and coordination of service delivery Least Likely Understanding of the authority and requirements of partner programs Have a plan for revision of existing agreements or how to generate a new agreement If there is an agreement, not likely to be shared with staff in partner programs, reviewed regularly and revised.

Coordinating Councils Most Likely Identified local Coordinating Council or other Early Childhood Council Identified shared vision and goals All partners are at the table and contribute to the work Least Likely Develop or use an existing local needs assessment as one tool to help guide work Share annual partner program data and coordinate use of data to further public understanding of local early childhood programs and effectiveness

Screening, Referral and Follow-up Most Likely Coordinate screening opportunities Discuss confidentiality including release of information forms Screen development, hearing, vision Least Likely Implement activities to maximize resources Assess staff training needs regarding screening and plan joint training opportunities Screen physical, mental or oral health

Transition Grid of Requirements and Self Assessment Checklist Examples of Local Documents – i.e. local Agreements, Shared Release of Information Forms What’s Next? Use of Data in Brochure/Fact Sheet Needs Assessment Resources?

Resources: Build Initiative: A Framework for Evaluating Systems Initiatives Beyond Parallel Play: Emerging State and Community Planning Roles in Building Early Learning Systems National League of Cities; Early Childhood Tools and Resources Evaluation and Systems Building

The charge to society is to blend the skepticism of a scientist, the passion of an advocate, the pragmatism of a policy maker, the creativity of a practitioner, and the devotion of a parent— and to use existing knowledge to ensure both a decent quality of life for all of our children and a productive future for the nation. From Neurons to Neighborhoods (National Research Council and Institute for Medicine):

Janet Newton, MS Education Program Consultant Parents as Teachers Carol Ayres, MS Education Program Consultant Part B, Section 619