AN OVERVIEW

Healthy & Ready to Learn by Age 5

What is ECP?

The Early Childhood Partners initiative is CT’s name for MCHB’s “State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems” (SECCS) plan to create a comprehensive, integrated service system that incorporates comprehensive health services, early care & education, & family support & parent education to get children healthy and ready to learn by age five.

How did CT begin?

• DPH was awarded grant & convened meeting of 8 State agencies in 2003 to determine what services, programs & funding existed

• 47 programs & initiatives were scanned

• $486 million in State & Federal investment (now over $540 million)

• Added communities & families to mix

State Agencies Involved in ECPPublic Health

Social Services

Children & Families

Developmental Services (formerly DMR)

Department of Education

Mental Health & Addiction Services

Policy & Management

Commission on Children

Integrated System Barriers

• Mechanisms for coordinating or integrating functions were fragmented

• Family support & parenting ed programs operated under different visions

• EC services primarily organized around funding streams/program eligibility/# of slots rather than needs of child & family

• Funding for EC services fragmented & inadequate…siloed

The ECP Strategic Plan

• Created by ECP Steering Committee• 14 months to complete• Provides plan for comprehensive, integrated

services bridging 3 domains:– Comprehensive Health Services– Early Care & Education– Family Support & Parent Education

• Provides common outcomes across siloed programs

ECP & Friends

• Governor Rell• Ct State Legislature• ECP Steering Committee• Early Childhood Education Cabinet and

subcommittees/workgroups• Research & Policy Council

Role of Steering Committee

• Review & approve ECP Implementation Plan

• Refine common child & system performance outcomes across EC services

• Identify new opportunities for coordination or integration of EC services

• Provide oversight & guidance for implementation

Role of the Cabinet(www.ecpolicycouncil.org/cabinet)

• Created by State Legislature in 2005

• Advise SDE Commissioner on school readiness

• Conduct evaluation of school readiness

• Develop budget requests for EC programs

• Promote consistency of quality & comprehensiveness of EC services

Research & Policy Council(www.ecpolicycouncil.org)

• Created by Executive Order of Governor Rell• Comprised of over 30 representatives spanning

the fields of business, education, charities & government

• Council will reinforce the State’s drive to become national model for early childhood education

ECP Implementation Plan

• Original plan had 28 goals; related objectives

• Revised plan has 4 goals:– Expand # of pediatric practices providing MHs– Increase number of parents/providers trained as

partners & participating in communities as advocates– Enhance health/mental health/education consultant

network for families & childcare providers– Increase coordination & information exchange

among state agencies & organizations that address EC services

Goal 1: Medical Homes• Objective 1: To develop & maintain

provider network of at least five new medical homes/year– Medical Home Advisory Council– CHDI & Family Support Network– CT Medical Home Initiative for

CYSHCN (5 area community-based organizations)

– CYSHCN Program

Goal 2: Parent Advocate Training• Objective 1: 100 parents will be trained through

PLTI programs funded by Parent Trust Act• Objective 2: Ages & Stages Training will be

provided to pediatric care practitioners to help parents ID developmental delays in their children

• Objective 3: ID & recruit family readers to provide input on ECP Implementation Plan

Goal 3: Support Child CareHealth Consultation

• Objective 1: Provide Child Care Health Consultant training to at least 20 consultants a year

– CNA previously conducted 3-4 trainings in CT annually

– Scheduled 5 in 2007

– Measure added to MCHBG

– Provide access to CIRTS thru parental forms

Goal 4: Coordinate Information

• Objective 1: Develop, launch & maintain ECP website (www.ecpartners.org)

• Objective 2: DPH will participate on Early Childhood Education Cabinet & subcommittees (CCHCs, Data, Communications, First Words First Steps Infant-Toddler Early Readiness, etc.)

• Objective 3: ECP Steering Committee was expanded & met quarterly

ECP: Next Steps

• HRSA recommends objectives remain attainable & measurable

• Much of Steering Committee’s work has been adopted by Cabinet

• Cabinet has extended invitation for select Steering Committee members to serve on its implementation teams

• Ready by 5 & Fine by 9: Cabinet support

Healthy & Ready to Learn by Age Five