Strengthening Early Childhood Systems: Applied Strategies From the Water of Systems Change Framework
Grounded in The Water of Systems Change framework, this resource series outlines strategies for six interconnected conditions to drive meaningful and lasting early childhood systems change: policies, practices, resource flows, relationships and connections, power dynamics, and mental models.
Each resource offers research- and expert-informed strategies, along with practical actions, that state and local health systems can use to support early childhood developmental health.
Explore Strategies to Create Lasting Change for Early Childhood Systems
– Establish common standards and procedures for early childhood programs, screening, and family engagement.
– Maximize financing opportunities at the state and local levels.
– Prioritize a strong workforce so that integrated care can be delivered widely.
Explore more policy strategies.
– Promote authentic family and community involvement in all aspects of the early childhood developmental health system.
– Strengthen care coordination and navigation across the system, with a focus on the family experience.
– Support integrated and cross-sector care practices.
Explore more practice strategies.
– Plan, commit to, and sustain funding to support coordinated, system-wide efforts.
– Fund initiatives that support and grow the early childhood mental health workforce.
– Invest in infrastructure to promote cross-sector data sharing.
Explore more resource flow strategies.
– Foster relationships among all systems partners, including providers and families.
– Practice authentic collaboration to support a high-functioning system.
– Prioritize communication with families that promotes their role as system-level partners.
Explore more relationship and connection strategies.
– Elevate the real-life experiences of families and communities in systems decisions and processes.
– Make family-driven care a priority by building strong partnerships between families and providers.
– Build provider and program capacity to partner with families.
Explore more power dynamic strategies.
– Revisit practices to challenge assumptions, realign values, and sustain innovation.
– Understand and practice authentic collaboration.
– Adopt a mindset that prioritizes community experience in systems efforts.
Explore more mental model strategies.
