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

The Build Initiative

– www.BuildInitiative.org

– BGebhard@BuildInitiative.org