The Early Childhood Developmental Health Systems (ECDHS): Evidence to Impact Center Selects Three Sites to Advance Equity- and Family-Centered Early Childhood Systems
Washington, DC – June 26, 2023 – The Early Childhood Developmental Health Systems (ECDHS): Evidence to Impact Center (the Center) – led by ZERO TO THREE in partnership with several of the nation’s top early childhood and health system organizations – today selected three Implementation Sites in Colorado, Hawaii, and Washington for a multiyear award. The award, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will advance statewide systems of comprehensive early childhood developmental (ECD) promotion, prevention, screening, and intervention.
“Comprehensive ECD systems require a focus on a full range of child and family strengths and needs,” said Debbie Cheatham, Director of the ECDHS: Evidence to Impact Center. “The Center is excited to work with the Implementation Sites to improve outcomes and reduce disparities in health and family well-being in communities with high levels of childhood poverty. With support from the Center, the Sites will focus on strategies that put families and equity first – their efforts will inform key components for ECD systems building.”
Each Site will define and contribute to short-, mid-, and long-term outcomes in their state that build upon previous efforts to reach system changes and improve health for young children and families. With technical assistance from the ECDHS: Evidence to Impact Center, the Sites will implement and evaluate ECD systems-building strategies, including:
- Promoting early developmental health and well-being
- Bringing together critical services – such as maternal and child health, early childhood education, and other social services – to provide seamless care for young children and their families
- Advancing equity, inclusiveness, access, and trust
- Building and promoting family and community leadership
- Integrating data-driven strategies that inform policymaking and resource allocation
- Identifying and making investments that support sustainability
“ECD systems building requires collaboration and committed progress toward change,” said Cathy Bodkin, the Center’s Senior Technical Assistance Specialist and lead for the Implementation Sites. “The Implementation Sites will engage in technical assistance, connect with subject matter experts, use curated resources, and more. Their efforts will enhance the implementation and evaluation of ECD systems building that helps all babies and families thrive.”
The Implementation Sites were selected based on several criteria, such as the team’s proposed goals for improving the ECD health system to impact communities with high levels of childhood poverty; the team members’ roles within their respective state and ability to influence early childhood policy and practice; and the team’s capacity to effect statewide improvement and implement evidence-informed, equity-driven strategies for ECD systems change.
About the Early Childhood Developmental Health Systems (ECDHS): Evidence to Impact Center
The ECDHS: Evidence to Impact Center is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ZERO TO THREE is leading this transformational work in partnership with several of the nation’s top early childhood and health system organizations – the American Academy of Pediatrics, Help Me Grow National Center, Center for the Study of Social Policy, Family Voices, Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, and Institute for Child Success. The Center seeks to increase the implementation and evaluation of evidence-informed, equity-driven, systems-level strategies among states and to strengthen the evidence base in support of ECD state systems building.