On March 1, 2021, the National League of Cities (NLC), National Association of Counties Research Foundation (NACoRF), and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) launched a joint national initiative, “State and Local Government Prenatal-to-Three Collaboration in Action,” aimed at improving outcomes for infants and toddlers. NLC, NACoRF and NCSL are hosting a series of educational events and resources for state, city and county leaders seeking to align policies and investments supporting young children and their families. “The National Association of Counties Research Foundation is pleased to join the National Conference of State Legislatures and National League of Cities to promote positive outcomes for infants and toddlers,” said National Association of Counties Research Foundation Executive Director Matthew Chase. “Counties provide innovative programs and services to an estimated 16 million children ages zero to three. We work with our state and local partners to improve coordination, invest in our youngest residents and build a brighter future for communities across America.”
NLC reaches cities of all sizes and brings together local leaders to develop strategies via technical assistance projects, peer learning networks, leadership academies, and Mayors’ Institutes. “Early childhood systems are improved when our municipal, county and state leaders work together,” said Dr. Robert Blaine, Director of the Institute for Youth, Education and Families at NLC. “NLC is proud to partner with the National Conference of State Legislatures and National Association of Counties Research Foundation in facilitating these important collaborations on behalf of infants, young children, and their families.” NCSL also shares excitement for joining a national movement of organizations representing state and local governments to promote healthy development for infants and toddlers. “City, county and state governments are all trying to ensure positive outcomes for infants and toddlers. I expect these meetings will help policymakers achieve even more through coordinated intergovernmental work,” said an NCSL representative.
The collaboration in Action will consist of three educational resources and events kicking off in 2021:
A fireside chat led by NLC on March 16 will highlight how the collective role of government is crucial in drumming up public support for advancing prenatal-to-three efforts as the country responds to and recovers from COVID-19 and reforms systems with young children in mind.
A roundtable led by NACoRF in the summer of 2022 will support state and local coordination on prenatal-to-3 by bringing state, county, and city leaders together on expanding PN-3 policy, programs, and systems statewide and within respective local jurisdictions.
An intergovernmental coordinating conversation led by NCSL in the fall will connect policymakers from state, county, and city levels to explore potential coordinated legislative efforts to improve outcomes for young children and their families.
NLC’s fireside chats will begin on March 16, 2021 at 1pm ET, kicking-off the State and Local Government Prenatal-to-Three Collaboration in Action series. The Fireside Chat will feature state and local elected officials from Wisconsin; demonstrating how the collective role of government is vital in advancing prenatal-to- three efforts as we re-imagine equitable systems with young children in mind. This event is open to the public and designed to support state, county and city government leaders.