1. 1 Kids Matter: Improving Outcomes for Children in Washington State Building Partnerships to Build Better Systems: Kids Matter, Strengthening Families, and Mental Health Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Partners Meeting March 13, 2008

2. 2 Who we are Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant – in WA part of a partnership called Kids Matter: Lorrie Grevstad Council for Children and Families – CBCAP and Strengthening Families Washington grantee: Joan Sharp Mental Health – including the WA Mental Health Transformation Grant: Tory Clarke Henderson

3. 3 Today: Sharing Washington’s Story Overview of ECCS partnership & Kids Matter System Efforts to Strengthen Families through Partnerships with a Focus on Family Support & Children’s Mental Health The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

4. 4 Kids Matter Framework: A Tool to… Bring together people and organizations with common goals Reduce fragmentation of systems and services Provide policy guidance to decision- makers Contribute to strong programs, services, schools, and communities

5. 5 Kids Matter was developed under the following tenets: Joint system building efforts built upon established plans Cross-system state agency participation Participatory community input from a broad constituency

6. 6 Kids Matter: Pillars of the Plan

7. 7 Approaches early childhood systems as a collaborative effort Serves as an over-arching bridge for a comprehensive and integrated framework Defines common goals and outcomes Outlines specific strategies and partners Focuses on accountability and evaluation of progress Systems Thinking approach that emphasizes the relationships among a system’s parts, rather than the parts themselves Kids Matter: Hallmarks

8. 8 Four overarching gaps in Washington state systems for young children: 1.Fragmentation—multiple, separate systems 2.Funding gaps 3.Challenges to focused policy guidance and decision-making 4.Lack of public understanding of the importance of early childhood and early childhood services What Needs Does Kids Matter Address ?

9. 9 Create a Common Frame

10. 10 Kids Matter Kids Matter is a framework of prioritized outcomes

11. 11 Access to Health Insurance and Medical Homes, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Parenting Information and Support, Early Care and Education/Child Care Family Support approach, strategy, or outcome is integrated throughout

12. 12 Sample Broad Outcomes Increased availability of appropriate and coordinated mental health services for children Improved understanding and practice of nurturing behaviors to promote children’s optimal social-emotional development and mental health Increased number and percentage of children entering kindergarten with social-emotional skills

13. 13 Kids Matter Framework

14. 14 Accountability & Evaluation Three Levels of progress: Using the Kids Matter Framework Systems Change Child and Family Changes

15. 15 Parent and Caregiver Changes Strategies Child and Family Changes Goal Systems Changes SO THAT Accountability and Evaluation

16. 16 Provides a conceptual framework for creating a more integrated, accessible EC system A ‘big tent’ for all who care for young children A way to focus collaborative efforts ‘strategically’ Brings together new public & private partners 30,000 ft. level – allows for flexibility so programs, initiatives and agencies can use what works for them How Does Kids Matter Add Value?

17. 17 Using the Framework to Support Systems Efforts

18. 18 What is systems work? Systems Multi-program/service Connections Partners Infrastructure (funding, training, etc.) Program/Services Single program/service Service delivery

19. 19 Health (including primary care) Public Health Child Care & Early Learning Education Mental Health Social Services Child Welfare ECCS/KM Focus Areas Health & Access (Medical Home) Early Care & Education Social, Emotional & Mental Health Parenting Education & Family Support Systems that impact young children and their families

20. 20 Systems work – What do we actually do? Inform Provide technical assistance Advise Coordinate Connect Plan Think Read Listen, learn & talk

21. 21 Council for Children and Families AKA Washington Children’s Trust Fund Our role: State lead for efforts to prevent child abuse & neglect Funding & support for community-based programs, especially developing capacity for outcome evaluation Public awareness & education Developing the network & informing the field (research into practice) Policy, advocacy & system change

22. 22 Council for Children and Families Child abuse & neglect prevention in Washington is not a “system” but a network It takes a “big tent” to include CAN/prevention Systems change focus allows everyone’s contribution to be valued as parts of the necessary whole

23. 23 Council for Children and Families Washington – like many other states – is in the throes of change Kids Matter looks holistically about what promotes child well being & brings family support – aka child abuse & neglect prevention -- squarely to the forefront “Children are healthy & ready for school” requires parent support & family strengthening

24. 24 Strengthening Families and Kids Matter Strengthening Families & the Protective Factors provides the Kids Matter Framework with a strategic approach to specific outcomes & specific methods of supporting parents and families

25. 25 Strengthening Families and Kids Matter Kids Matter outcomes relevant to Strengthening Families: Increased number and percentage of children who live in safe, stable & supportive families Improved understanding and practice of nurturing behaviors to promote children’s optimal social-emotional development and mental health Increased systems’ recognition of families’ role as the primary nurturer of their children

26. 26 Quality Early Care and Education Protective Factors Quality Early Care & Education SF Supports ECCS Five Components and Outcomes Social & Emotional Competence of Children(SE-MH) Program Strategies That: Facilitate friendships and mutual support Strengthen parenting Respond to family crises Link families to services and opportunities Value and support parents Facilitate children’s social and emotional development Observe and respond to early warning signs of child abuse or neglect Concrete supports in times of need (P&FS) Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development(ECE&H) Social Connections(SE-MH ) Parental Resilience (P&FS )

27. 27 Kids Matter Framework

28. 28 Strengthening Families Washington

29. 29 Mental Health Mental health within DOH and local public health Kids Matter/ECCS - Social, emotional, mental health focus area Mental Health Transformation (MHT) Grant (http://mhtransformation.wa.gov/) MHT Prevention Advisory Group State Board of Health Paper - Mental Health – a Public Health Approach

30. 30 Mental Health – A Public Health Approach Treatment & Recovery Early Intervention Prevention Promotion

31. 31 What helps partnerships work? Relationships, relationships, relationships Listen and learn about each others systems – funding streams, regulations, priorities, stakeholders, etc. Pay attention to language Go to meetings Tapping into natural leaders Read

32. 32 What gets in the way? Difficult to identify and measure results and outcomes Can become overwhelming and disorganized if priorities are not identified Can be difficult to articulate clearly Lack of funding for coordination and systems building efforts Tiring

33. 33 Results of our partnerships MHT Prevention Advisory Group Prevention Chapter in Mental Health Transformation Plan, including mention of ECCS/KM ECCS/LM listed as DOH initiative that works toward an MHT priority (increased system collaboration) SBOH paper including early childhood stakeholders, and early childhood section

34. 34 More results Linking community efforts related to early learning, SFWA, social emotional development, and children’s mental health Integrated ECCS/KM, SFWA, and mental health into Child & Adolescent Section Strategic Plan, MCH Mental Health Plan, and MCH Block Grant reports MCH Priority – Optimal mental health and healthy relationships MCH State Performance Measure related to early learning and school readiness

35. 35 More results Promotion & utilization of the Kids Matter framework to new audiences: –Increased understanding of the many interconnecting parts that contribute to child well being –Silo busting

36. 36 Lessons Learned Dogged determination (a fire in the belly) makes the difference. Joining together to build off a common framework keeps the fires of commitment burning Recognize this work takes time & should be supported It is worth it !

37. 37 Contact Information Lorrie Grevstad lorrie.grevstad@doh.wa.gov Tory Clarke Henderson tory.henderson@doh.wa.gov Joan Sharp joan@wcpcan.wa.gov