Download - The Build Initiative
The Build InitiativeThe Build InitiativeThe Build InitiativeThe Build Initiative
Building Early Learning Systems Building Early Learning Systems in the Statesin the States
Public Policy is stuck in the 19th Century
Brain growth versus public expenditures on children
Cumulative percent of public dollars spent on children
Percent of total brain growth
The Policy ChallengeWhen parents of young children work, their
children need safe, affordable care that provides opportunity for children to learn and develop
High quality costs more than most parents can afford
Care for infants costs more than for three and four-year-olds
Cognitive dissonance: Parents say their arrangements are OK
Public Supports Early education tied to school
readiness
Programs that benefit both low-income and middle-class families
Voluntary participation
Greater support for programs for three and four-year-olds
Public Ambivalence• Majority of mothers of young
children are worker
• Public still believes mothers should be home when children are very young
Need to Reframe the Question
• Given the fact that many children are in the care of others for part of their day, how do we make it as good as it can be?
The Build Initiative
• Multi-state partnership
• Goal: children who are safe, healthy, eager to learn and ready to succeed
The Challenge• Programs, policies and services exist
but…– They operate in isolation (the silo
effect)– Sometimes operate at cross purposes– Frequently lack resources to meet
critical needs– Duplication of effort?
The Build Initiative Mission
Help each state build a coordinated system of programs, policies and services that is responsive to theneeds of families, careful in the use of private and public resources, and effective in preparing our youngest children (birth to five) for a successful
future.
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Systemic Level: Systems Change Efforts
Governance &
Leadership
Public Engagement
Evaluation
Quality
Programs & Services
Resources & Financing
Policy Reforms
Systems Change/Infrastructure
Role of The Build Initiative
– A catalyst for change– A source of ideas and funds– A pathway to a deeper national
understanding of early learning issues
Who Funds The Build Initiative?
• The Early Childhood Funders’ Collaborative (ECFC)– Consortium of national and local
foundations established in 1995– Provides networking, info sharing,
and strategic grantmaking opportunities to its members
Build Initiative Hallmarks
• Public/private partnership:– Include state agency officials,
business and community leaders, parents, advocates and others who work with children
– Funding for planning, convening, system analysis
State Grantees
• Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey and Ohio, Pennsylvania
Funds are used to• support states’ efforts to:
– Reform existing state systems– Test new models– Connect programs and services– Help ensure that all young children
have access to early learning systems
Examples of work underway:
– Building broad-based coalitions– Gathering and analyzing data – Designing a public engagement
campaign– Implementing cross-program
professional development– Strengthening linkages between state
and local service delivery systems
Build Learning Community
• Expanded Learning Community in May 2003
• RFP sent to key contacts in all states• Selected 4 learning partner states
– Hawaii– Michigan– Oklahoma– Washington
Build’s Communications Plan
• Designed to increase the visibility of the need for early learning systems
• Highlights work in the selected states
• Build website:www.BuildInitiative.org
Build Evaluation• Child and Family Policy Center in
Iowa is the evaluation firm • Each Build grantee also has a
state evaluation partner
Build Evaluation• Assists states and funders in
learning more about:– Successful state level strategies– Measuring the results of systems-
building efforts– Role of private funders as catalysts
for change
Lessons Learned• A modest invest in planning goes a
long way• Public will building and mobilization a
high priority in all states• All states have defined early learning
to include health, human services, and early care and education