The Political Will to Improve Early Childhood Systems

The Political Will to Improve Early Childhood Systems

There are many strategies that are currently being used by advocates and/or organizations like BUILD Initiative and Head Start to influence political will toward improving early childhood systems in order to foster the well-being of children and their families. One strategy Head Start has is to encourage and facilitate parent and family participation in their child’s developmental and educational planning and implementation. The family is the most influential part in the development of children academically, emotionally and socially.

When families are truly engaged as partners, they take the lead and make decisions about their child’s learning and along with the program staff, they commit to working together on children’s behalf. This type of positive goal-directed relationship between families and program staff is critical to children’s development and school readiness.  

Another strategy with regard to diversity and equity that BUILD utilizes is supporting state leaders through tailored technical assistance, capacity building, and peer learning opportunities to help them address a number of gaps, often characterized by income, race/ethnicity, language and opportunities that exist in child outcomes, as well as in system capacity and response.

One of my many interests lie in closing the educational gaps caused by the inequities stated above and also closing the time gap between appropriate evaluation for children with special needs and implementation effective early intervention services because
All children need and deserve a care and education that will help them live to their fullest potential. They are our future and based on what I see, unless we begin to make some steep positive steps, could be bleak evidenced by the number of prisons being built in anticipation.

http://www.buildinitiative.org/TheIssues/DiversityEquity.aspx

http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/family