Results NAZ: Early Childhood Summary

December 2014

Theme that Emerged / Solution Plan Element / Impact on
Solution Plan
NAZ’s Early Childhood Solution Area Ecosystem needs to increase its ability to take and track action when scholars are identified as being behind. This includes action with the parent as well as services for the scholar.
  • Train on reporting functionalities in NAZ Connect to share data about scholars with partners before, during, and immediately following progress monitoring
  • Refine and train on Developmental Concern Protocol
/ EAI 2.1.5
and 7.2-7.5 / Increase implementation of specified components
Early Childhood Partners would like more support to build capacity for supporting pre-literacy and pre-numeracy development including:
  • Data-driven problem solving and instructional decision making
  • Coaching and Training on effective classroom strategies
  • Best practice in supporting behavioral health
  • Explore how high quality centers can provide outreach to other childcare providers who are not high quality.
  • Refine and train on Developmental Concern Protocol
/ EAI 5.2.2 and 5.2.7 / Need to revise Solution Plan to increase specificity of program components.
Parents need increased support to know how to judge the quality of early childhood centers.
Quote from NAZ Parent on the Roundtable: “I used to think I had good care for my child. Then I got enrolled in a high quality center and I was amazed by how much he was learning. I used to be happy that a nice lady was taking care of my child. Now I know that I need a nice lady who also knows how to teach my child”. / EAI 5.2.5 / Implementation adjustment
The NAZ Ecosystem needs to do more to reach pregnant women and provide support, including referring mothers to Healthy Start. Ideas generated include:
  • We need to train everyone at NAZ on how to refer families to Healthy Start.
  • Have information at WIC so that Mothers can see this information (WIC is moving to Northside Hub)
  • Provide short educational videos where parents have to wait anyway (e.g., DR waiting room)
  • Right after giving birth, provide videos and information packets to new moms prior to going home.
/ EAI 3.1 – 3.3 / Need to revise Solution Plan to include an EAI about referring pregnant mothers for general support, not just medical support.
We need to increase financial resources to support our families being able to attend high quality early childhood centers.
  • Consider other possible funding sources (sliding fee scales, etc.) to keep the child stable in the center
  • Consider supports for families who don’t qualify for typical funding supports
/ EAI 5.3.2 and 6.2.1 – 6.2.3 / Increase implementation of specified components