A Comprehensive Early Childhood System In WI

1
A Comprehensive Early Childhood System In WI

• Presented by
• Loraine Lucinski, MPH
• Maternal Child Health Program, Bureau of
  Community Health Promotion, DPH

2
Why Develop an Early Childhood System?

• Brain Development Research
• Importance of positive and nurturing conditions
• Greater understanding of what children need to
  later succeed in school

3
Wisconsins Early Childhood Plan

• Wisconsin Kids Win
• The Early Childhood
• Comprehensive System
• State Plan
• A plan to develop a locally-based,

• Wisconsin Kids Win
• The Early Childhood Comprehensive System State
  Plan

4
Five Key Component Areas

• The Early Childhood Comprehensive State Plan
  addresses programs, services and supports in five
  areas including
• Access to Health Care and Medical Homes
• Mental Health and Social-Emotional Development
• Early Care and Education
• Parent Education
• Family Support

5
Identified Challenges Current Early Childhood
Programs and Services

• Challenge 1 Most people do not understand how
  critical the first years of life are to the
  infant and childs development and need help
  finding and recognizing quality programs that
  support healthy children and families.
• Challenge 2 Without proper attention paid to
  availability and quality of services, high
  quality comprehensive services may not be
  available for Wisconsins young children and
  their families.

6
Identified Challenges (continued)

• Challenge 3 The qualities of early childhood
  providers skill sets are often not sufficient to
  meet the needs of children and families due to
  insufficient training, compensation, and funding.
• Challenge 4 Wisconsins early childhood services
  are often fragmented, duplicative, not
  coordinated and/or under-funded, statewide.

7
Goals of Wisconsin Kids Win

• GOAL 1 Wisconsin citizens understand the
  critical importance of the early years, are aware
  of programs and services and can identify the
  qualities that support healthy children and
  families
• GOAL 2 Wisconsin assures access to high
  quality, comprehensive, integrated,
  evidence-based services for young children and
  their families in the component areas of Access
  to Health Care and Medical Home Early Care and
  Education Mental Health and Social Emotional
  Development Family Support and Parenting
  Education

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Goals of Wisconsin Kids Win

• GOAL 3 Providers of early childhood
  comprehensive services are competent and apply
  appropriate principles of early learning and
  development, family support, parent education,
  and community-based health and mental health
  services
• GOAL 4 A comprehensive and integrated statewide
  early childhood system for all young children and
  their families is available in communities
  throughout Wisconsin

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Seven Main Strategies

• Strengthen knowledge and awareness of
  individuals
• Influence policy and legislation 
• Increase availability and quality of services and
  supports 
• Change organizational practices
• Foster community collaboration
• Educate providers and improve professional
  development and
• Build and strengthen early childhood
  infrastructure

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Potential Roles of Public Health Departments

• Increase availability and quality of services and
  supports 
• By December 31, 2007, (insert ) at-risk infants
  will receive health care coordination services
  from (insert name of local health department)
  that focus on primary health exams,
  immunizations, and developmental screening
  according to American Academy of Pediatrics
  recommendations.
• By December 31, 2007, (insert ) children ages 6
  months to 5 years will receive social-emotional
  developmental assessments from (insert name)
  Health Department.

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Potential Roles of Public Health Departments

• Build and strengthen early childhood
  infrastructure
• By December 31, 2007, (insert number) strategies
  for local infrastructure building that support
  and promote the National Performance Outcome for
  Medical Home and will be implemented by the
  (insert name) Health Department.

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Potential Roles of Public Health Departments

• Educate providers and improve professional
  development
• By December 31, 2007, 40 child care providers
• from (Insert Name) County enrolled in health
  education
• talks will demonstrate an increase in knowledge
• related to child health care topics.

13
Questions, Ideas or Comments are Welcome !

• For a complete copy of Wisconsin Kids Win The
  Early Childhood Comprehensive System State Plan,
  visit http//dhfs.wisconsin.gov/DPH_BFCH/MCH/ind
  ex.htm
• Loraine Lucinski
• ECCS Coordinator
• Maternal Child Health Program
• 608-267-0329
• Lucinla_at_dhfs.state.wi.us