Families are children’s first teachers. Yet policies impacting young children are often created without input from parents and families. By meaningfully engaging families in policy and program design, counties can transform services and systems to help young children achieve economic mobility, housing stability and improved health and well-being. Join this virtual convening to learn more about how and why county governments can engage families in planning and implementation efforts. 

 Note: This convening will focus on strategies for urban and larger suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for rural counties, please join the December 18 session. 

Families are children’s first teachers. Yet policies impacting young children are often created without input from parents and families. By meaningfully engaging families in policy and program design, counties can transform services and systems to help young children achieve economic mobility, housing stability and improved health and well-being. Join this virtual convening to learn more about how and why county governments can engage families in planning and implementation efforts. 

 Note: This convening will focus on strategies for rural and smaller suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for urban counties, please join the December 19 session. 

Ensuring that parents and caregivers have access to what they need to raise healthy babies helps build a strong foundation for all future learning and development. This convening will explore the domains of the social determinants of health—the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work and play that shape health and well-being—and share strategies for making policy, program or systems changes that improve health, well-being and education outcomes for young children. Join us June 15 to learn more about how counties can connect families to holistic resources and supports that address the social determinants of health.

Note: This convening will focus on strategies for urban and larger suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for rural counties, please join the June 13 session.

Ensuring that parents and caregivers have access to what they need to raise healthy babies helps build a strong foundation for all future learning and development. This convening will explore the domains of the social determinants of health—the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work and play that shape health and well-being—and share strategies for making policy, program or systems changes that improve health, well-being and education outcomes for young children. Join us June 13 to learn more about how counties can connect families to holistic resources and supports that address the social determinants of health.

Note: This convening will focus on strategies for rural and smaller suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for urban counties, please join the June 15 session.

Since February 2020, the child care sector has lost nearly 60,000 educators. Because of low pay and lack of access to health care benefits and other types of support, it can be difficult to recruit and retain qualified child care providers. Counties have allocated COVID-19 relief funding to invest in new and existing child care providers, but much of this funding will expire in the next few years. Join this interactive discussion to hear from county leaders about long-term strategies for financing and sustaining investments in the early childhood workforce. The March 22nd convening will focus on urban and larger suburban counties.

Since February 2020, the child care sector has lost nearly 60,000 educators. Because of low pay and lack of access to health care benefits and other types of support, it can be difficult to recruit and retain qualified child care providers. Counties have allocated COVID-19 relief funding to invest in new and existing child care providers, but much of this funding will expire in the next few years. Join this interactive discussion to hear from county leaders about long-term strategies for financing and sustaining investments in the early childhood workforce. The March 21st convening will focus on rural and smaller suburban counties.

By assessing local systems that support prenatal to three, counties can increase their understanding of the opportunities, experiences, and challenges faced by families. Collecting and centralizing data can help counties set metrics and identify which programs and services are most successful. Join this conversation with national experts and county leaders to learn approaches for mitigating data challenges and using data to inform policies, programs, and services affecting young children.

In partnership with Verite Education Services

By assessing local systems that support prenatal to three, counties can increase their understanding of the opportunities, experiences, and challenges faced by families. Collecting and centralizing data can help counties set metrics and identify which programs and services are most successful. Join this conversation with national experts and county leaders to learn approaches for mitigating data challenges and using data to inform policies, programs, and services affecting young children.

In partnership with Verite Education Services

By assessing local systems that support prenatal to three, counties can increase their understanding of the opportunities, experiences, and challenges faced by families. Collecting and centralizing data can help counties set metrics and identify which programs and services are most successful. Join this conversation with national experts and county leaders to learn approaches for mitigating data challenges and using data to inform policies, programs, and services affecting young children.

In partnership with Verite Education Services

More than 7 million children, including 30 percent of infants and toddlers, receive child care in a home-based setting. Home-based child care plays an important role in the mixed delivery system by offering parents care options that have smaller class sizes, are culturally diverse, and may be closer to home or more affordable. Join this interactive discussion featuring Home Grown and county leaders to learn how your county can improve the quality of and access to home-based child care and better support these providers and their unique needs.

SPEAKERS

• Natalie Renew, Executive Director, Home Grown

• Jessica Cafferty, Child Care Policy Lead, King County, Wash.

More than 7 million children, including 30 percent of infants and toddlers, receive child care in a home-based setting. Home-based child care plays an important role in the mixed delivery system by offering parents care options that have smaller class sizes, are culturally diverse, and may be closer to home or more affordable. Join this interactive discussion featuring Home Grown and county leaders to learn how your county can improve the quality of and access to home-based child care and better support these providers and their unique needs.

SPEAKERS

• Natalie Renew, Executive Director, Home Grown

• Spencer Swain, Executive Director, Families First

• Aurora Swain, Director of Operations, Families First

More than 7 million children, including 30 percent of infants and toddlers, receive child care in a home-based setting. Home-based child care plays an important role in the mixed delivery system by offering parents care options that have smaller class sizes, are culturally diverse, and may be closer to home or more affordable. Join this interactive discussion featuring Home Grown and county leaders to learn how your county can improve the quality of and access to home-based child care and better support these providers and their unique needs.

Speakers

• Natalie Renew, Executive Director, Home Grown

• Jennifer Arnaiz, Manager, Child Care Support Services, Montgomery County, Md.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, young children and the systems and programs that serve them have faced serious disruptions and challenges. As counties begin planning how to spend the $65.1 billion of direct, flexible aid available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), there are opportunities to address economic and educational disparities, promote healthy childhood environments, support the essential child care workforce and invest broadly in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Join national experts and peer counties to discuss and brainstorm strategies for prioritizing infants and toddlers in these recovery efforts.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, young children and the systems and programs that serve them have faced serious disruptions and challenges. As counties begin planning how to spend the $65.1 billion of direct, flexible aid available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), there are opportunities to address economic and educational disparities, promote healthy childhood environments, support the essential child care workforce and invest broadly in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Join national experts and peer counties to discuss and brainstorm strategies for prioritizing infants and toddlers in these recovery efforts.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, young children and the systems and programs that serve them have faced serious disruptions and challenges. As counties begin planning how to spend the $65.1 billion of direct, flexible aid available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), there are opportunities to address economic and educational disparities, promote healthy childhood environments, support the essential child care workforce and invest broadly in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Join national experts and peer counties to discuss and brainstorm strategies for prioritizing infants and toddlers in these recovery efforts.

County leaders can partner with local philanthropic organizations to help advise on prenatal-to-three strategic efforts and policy priorities. Moreover, county leaders can leverage public-private partnerships with philanthropic organizations to establish private funding sources for county-based efforts, address equity gaps and maximize local children’s services. Join this interactive discussion with county leaders to explore what your county can do to develop and strengthen public-private partnerships that put infants and toddlers at the top of the local policy agenda.

Speakers

Cara Ciminillo, Executive Director, Trying Together, Allegheny County, Pa.

County leaders can partner with local philanthropic organizations to help advise on prenatal-to-three strategic efforts and policy priorities. Moreover, county leaders can leverage public-private partnerships with philanthropic organizations to establish private funding sources for county-based efforts, address equity gaps and maximize local children’s services. Join this interactive discussion with county leaders to explore what your county can do to develop and strengthen public-private partnerships that put infants and toddlers at the top of the local policy agenda.

Speakers

Charrise Hart, Chief Executive Officer, Ready for School, Ready for Life, Guilford County, N.C.

Michelle Chapin, Project Manager, Ready for School, Ready for Life, Guilford County, N.C.

County leaders can partner with local philanthropic organizations to help advise on prenatal-to-three strategic efforts and policy priorities. Moreover, county leaders can leverage public-private partnerships with philanthropic organizations to establish private funding sources for county-based efforts, address equity gaps and maximize local children’s services. Join this interactive discussion with county leaders to explore what your county can do to develop and strengthen public-private partnerships that put infants and toddlers at the top of the local policy agenda.

Speakers

Linda Beers, MPH, Director of Public Health, Essex County Health Department

Krista Berger, WIC Program Coordinator, Essex County Health Department

Counties have made significant strides in expanding child care services for children and families. County leaders are supporting child care providers with local COVID-19 relief and applying innovative approaches for sustaining child care beyond the pandemic. Join this interactive discussion among county leaders and national experts to explore what your county can do to build the local supply of child care for infants and toddlers and learn more about Bipartisan Policy Center’s child care gap tool.

Speakers

Otter Tail County, Minn.

Marsha Erickson, Early Childhood Specialist, West Central Initiative

Nancy Jost, Director of Early Childhood, West Central Initiative

Bipartisan Policy Center

Linda Smith, Director, Early Childhood Initiative, Bipartisan Policy Center

Counties have made significant strides in expanding child care services for children and families. County leaders are supporting child care providers with local COVID-19 relief and applying innovative approaches for sustaining child care beyond the pandemic. Join this interactive discussion among county leaders and national experts to explore what your county can do to build the local supply of child care for infants and toddlers and learn more about Bipartisan Policy Center’s child care gap tool.

Speakers

Missoula County, Mont.

Grace Decker, Zero To Five Strategic Collaboration Coordinator, United Way of Missoula County

Bipartisan Policy Center

Linda Smith, Director, Early Childhood Initiative, Bipartisan Policy Center

Counties have made significant strides in expanding child care services for children and families. County leaders are supporting child care providers with local COVID-19 relief and applying innovative approaches for sustaining child care beyond the pandemic. Join this interactive discussion among county leaders and national experts to explore what your county can do to build the local supply of child care for infants and toddlers and learn more about Bipartisan Policy Center’s child care gap tool.

Speakers

Harris County, Texas

Wallis Nader, Deputy Policy Director, Office of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo

Aresha Davwa, Policy Analyst, Office of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo

Bipartisan Policy Center

Linda Smith, Director, Early Childhood Initiative, Bipartisan Policy Center