Strengthening Families Strengthening Families through Early Care and through Early Care and

Education Education

Columbia, SCColumbia, SC

October 14, 2006October 14, 2006

The Ripple EffectThe Ripple Effect Beyond expectations: a surprising, Beyond expectations: a surprising,

explosive movement led by early explosive movement led by early childhood leaders in many stateschildhood leaders in many states

Momentum and great Momentum and great

partnerships: approaching partnerships: approaching

a tipping point a tipping point

Ripples One at a TimeRipples One at a Time

Find evidence that early childhood Find evidence that early childhood programs can prevent child abuseprograms can prevent child abuse

Influence national leaders and systems Influence national leaders and systems to adopt the ideato adopt the idea

Focus on state by state implementation Focus on state by state implementation to reach scaleto reach scale

Create greater safety for millions of Create greater safety for millions of young childrenyoung children

The hypothesis:The hypothesis: early care and early care and education programs could be a education programs could be a good strategy because they offergood strategy because they offer

Daily contact with parents and Daily contact with parents and childrenchildren

Uniquely intimate relationship with Uniquely intimate relationship with familiesfamilies

A universal approach of positive A universal approach of positive encouragement and education for familiesencouragement and education for families

An early warning and response system at the An early warning and response system at the first sign of troublefirst sign of trouble

The ResultThe Result

Small Small but significantbut significant changes in early changes in early childhood practice that help programs childhood practice that help programs reach out to families more effectively can reach out to families more effectively can have enormous impact on: have enormous impact on: Preventing child abuse and neglectPreventing child abuse and neglect Parenting competence and confidenceParenting competence and confidence Long term results for young childrenLong term results for young children

Steps Along the WaySteps Along the Way

A new framework for preventing child A new framework for preventing child abuse and neglectabuse and neglect

Finding exemplary programs and Finding exemplary programs and documenting good practicedocumenting good practice

Partnerships with key national leaders and Partnerships with key national leaders and national organizationsnational organizations

State leadership teams, now in 21 states State leadership teams, now in 21 states

Protective Factors Protective Factors

1.1. Parental ResilienceParental Resilience

2.2. Social ConnectionsSocial Connections

3.3. Knowledge of Parenting Knowledge of Parenting and Child Developmentand Child Development

4.4. Concrete Support in Concrete Support in Times of NeedTimes of Need

5.5. Social and Emotional Social and Emotional Competence of ChildrenCompetence of Children

CANPrevention

Protective Factors

Social & EmotionalCompetence of

Children

Program Strategies ???

Quality Early Care & Education

Concrete supports in times of need

Knowledge of Parenting & Child

Development

Social Connections

Parental Resilience

Seeking a few good programsSeeking a few good programs

Rural, urban, suburbanRural, urban, suburban Small/large; stand alone/in large agencySmall/large; stand alone/in large agency Big budget, small budgetBig budget, small budget All serving low income familiesAll serving low income families Already high quality programs by other Already high quality programs by other

standardsstandards

CANPrevention

Protective Factors

Social and EmotionalCompetence of Children

Concrete Supports in Times of Need

Knowledge of Parenting& Child Development

Parental ResilienceProgram 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

Social Connections

Quality Early Care & Education:

How Early Childhood Programs How Early Childhood Programs Contribute to Prevention of Child Contribute to Prevention of Child

Abuse and NeglectAbuse and Neglect

A gold standard studyA gold standard study

Arthur Reynolds, University of WisconsinArthur Reynolds, University of Wisconsin Longitudinal comparison of children and Longitudinal comparison of children and

families who participated in a program with families who participated in a program with similar elements identified by CSSP with similar elements identified by CSSP with those who did notthose who did not

Results: 52% reduction in substantiated Results: 52% reduction in substantiated CAN cases by age 17CAN cases by age 17

Tools for ImplementationTools for Implementation

Program guide book and self-assessment toolsProgram guide book and self-assessment tools Literature reviewLiterature review Program summariesProgram summaries Analysis of EC infrastructure requirementsAnalysis of EC infrastructure requirements Newsletters and updatesNewsletters and updates Handouts/slide shows/communication materialsHandouts/slide shows/communication materials Web site: Web site: www.cssp.orgwww.cssp.org

Where we are todayWhere we are today

7 CSSP pilot states 7 CSSP pilot states 3 Largest Cities: LA, Chicago, New York3 Largest Cities: LA, Chicago, New York 9 Trust Fund Grantees (3 pilots) 9 Trust Fund Grantees (3 pilots) 15 Learning Network States15 Learning Network States Zero to Three training in 12 statesZero to Three training in 12 states NAEYC Fellows in 24 statesNAEYC Fellows in 24 states

CSSP Pilot StatesCSSP Pilot States

ID

AZ

UT

MT

WY

NM

CO

AL

FL

SC

TN

KY

INOH

NC

SD

KS

NE

MN

WI

IA

IL

MO

AR

MS

OK

ND

OR

CA NV

WA

TX

WV

PA

ME

VA

NY

LA

GA

MIRI

VT N

H

MD

CT

HI

DE

NJ

AK

MA

DC

CSSP Pilot State ImpactCSSP Pilot State Impact

Total Children: 700,302Total Children: 700,302

Total Centers: 10,747Total Centers: 10,747

Number of Centers Implementing Action Plans Number of Centers Implementing Action Plans by end of 2006: 4,175by end of 2006: 4,175

Exemplary programs identified in pilot states: Exemplary programs identified in pilot states: 214214

CSSP and Alliance StatesCSSP and Alliance States

ID

AZ

UT

MT

WY

NM

CO

AL

FL

SC

TN

KY

INOH

NC

SD

KS

NE

MN

WI

IA

IL

MO

AR

MS

OK

ND

OR

CA NV

WA

TX

WV

PA

ME

VA

NY

LA

GA

MIRI

VT N

H

MD

CT

HI

DE

NJ

AK

MA

DC

Potential Impact of Statewide Potential Impact of Statewide ImplementersImplementers

Total centers: 34,614Total centers: 34,614

Total children 0-5 in child care: 2,873,966Total children 0-5 in child care: 2,873,966

Behind the NumbersBehind the Numbers

Enthusiasm and leadership from key state Enthusiasm and leadership from key state leaders: early childhood, child welfare leaders: early childhood, child welfare administrators, Children’s Trust Funds, administrators, Children’s Trust Funds, governors governors

State Policy and Regulatory Changes:State Policy and Regulatory Changes: Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development LicensingLicensing Quality Rating ScalesQuality Rating Scales Mandatory Reporter TrainingMandatory Reporter Training

National InfluenceNational Influence

Protective factors alignment from the most Protective factors alignment from the most important organizations and leadersimportant organizations and leaders

NAEYC accreditation changes:NAEYC accreditation changes:

971,000 children in 11,353 centers971,000 children in 11,353 centers Parents as Teachers: 320,000 ChildrenParents as Teachers: 320,000 Children Healthy Families America: 50,000 familiesHealthy Families America: 50,000 families

All States with ActivityAll States with Activity

ID

AZ

UT

MT

WY

NM

CO

AL

FL

SC

TN

KY

INOH

NC

SD

KS

NE

MN

WI

IA

IL

MO

AR

MS

OK

ND

OR

CA NV

WA

TX

WV

PA

ME

VA

NY

LA

GA

MIRI

VT N

H

MD

CT

HI

DE

NJ

AK

MA

DC

CSSP Pilot Sites Children's Trust Fund States Learning Network Zero to Three Partnering with Parents States NAEYC STSF States CSSP Exemplary Programs

DC

NH

RI

Signs of Systems Change Signs of Systems Change Reframing CAN prevention to highlight Reframing CAN prevention to highlight

child developmentchild development CDC Violence Prevention BranchCDC Violence Prevention Branch HHS Office on Child Abuse and NeglectHHS Office on Child Abuse and Neglect

Including Support for Families in Early Including Support for Families in Early Childhood Efforts: A New Norm?Childhood Efforts: A New Norm? State PreK FundingState PreK Funding Policy Guidance from NCSL and NGAPolicy Guidance from NCSL and NGA Gates Foundation and other fundersGates Foundation and other funders

A Tipping Point?A Tipping Point?

Momentum and impact is growingMomentum and impact is growing

Significant adoption of a new national Significant adoption of a new national approach to prevention AND good results approach to prevention AND good results for more childrenfor more children

Continued and growing demand from Continued and growing demand from states and national organizations for states and national organizations for technical assistance and planningtechnical assistance and planning

The Work is Not FinishedThe Work is Not Finished

Continued leadership and support is Continued leadership and support is necessary to:necessary to:

Deepen good practiceDeepen good practice Ensure sustainable policyEnsure sustainable policy Move to scale in all statesMove to scale in all states Track results and generate evidence of Track results and generate evidence of

effectivenesseffectiveness

The “New Normal”The “New Normal”

Child abuse and neglect prevention becomes Child abuse and neglect prevention becomes building healthy familiesbuilding healthy families

Early childhood programs extend their mission to Early childhood programs extend their mission to support families and protect childrensupport families and protect children

Child welfare and other state systems that serve Child welfare and other state systems that serve vulnerable children and families recognize and vulnerable children and families recognize and support the developmental needs of young support the developmental needs of young childrenchildren

State policy and funding sustain the work of State policy and funding sustain the work of Strengthening Families Strengthening Families