The Council provides the leadership to promote a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable early

childhood system

The focus of Spark NH is expectant parents as well as children from birth through grade 3 and their families

A public/private partnership with a vision that all New Hampshire children and their families are healthy, learning and thriving now and in the future

2003 2005

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

ECCS Launch

ECCS Plan

Congress mandates state

ECACs

Early Childhood Systems Building

Stakeholder Meetings

Planning for an ECAC

Council

ECAC Steering Committee

Launch Spark

NH

New Hampshire’sEarly ChildhoodSystems Building Timeline

EarlyLearning &

Development

HealthFamily

Leadership & Support

State Early Childhood Development SystemEarly care and education opportunities in nurturing

environments where children can learn what they need to succeed in

school and life.

Economic and parenting supports to ensure children have nurturing and stable relationships with caring

adults.

Comprehensive health services that meet

children’s vision, hearing, nutrition, behavioral, and

oral health as well as medical health needs.

Communications and Public Awareness Committee

• Builds public awareness of and commitment to early childhood

• Presentations: “Children: The Bedrock of the Granite State”

• Banners and Brochures

Policy Committee

• Implementation of the NH Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Early Childhood

• Policy Scan of state and national early childhood best practices • Policy Recommendations

Quality of Early ChildhoodPrograms and Services Committee

• Develop and promote a shared, cross-sector definition of quality• Reviews and revises quality standards of early childhood programs – cross

sectors• Ensures access and coordination and collaboration among programs to

identify and meet family needs

Early Childhood Data System Committee

• Facilitates the development and implementation of an integrated, cross-sector data system that connects DHHS early childhood data to the NH DOE’s longitudinal data system

• Periodic state needs assessment

Workforce and Professional Development Committee

• Develops recommendations and implementation plans to enhance NH’s early childhood workforce

• Building cross sector, comprehensive professional development system • Build investment and commitment to EC professional development

Spark NH Highlights:Led the creation of the New Hampshire Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Early Childhood

Created a research-based public awareness campaign promoting awareness of the importance of early childhood development

Created an online portal that allows early childhood professionals to find professional development and job opportunities

Created a blueprint for early childhood data integration in New Hampshire

sparknh.org