Action Areas
We began with conversations that led us to focus on five action areas of early childhood. Examining various challenges children and families face every day within each action area, we identified, coordinated, and elevated community feedback that ultimately led to The Agenda’s 10 priorities.
Financially Secure Families
Address the factors that cause families’ economic instability, and devise solutions that meet the basic needs of families with young children and protect their dignity. Ensure equitable access to high-quality early childhood services. Create sustainable economic well-being. Eliminate racial disparities in wealth. And promote racial equity through income supports, stabilization programs, and intentional collaborations.
This action area is addressed by Agenda priorities #1, #3, and #7.
High-Quality Experiences
Identify barriers to quality and prioritize equitable, culturally and linguistically responsive, child- and family-centered services and resources that enable young children to live, play, and learn in safe, nurturing, and inclusive communities that support their growth and development.
This action area is addressed by Agenda priorities #4, #5, and #8.
Thriving Early Childhood Workforce
Develop a diverse, well-prepared early childhood workforce. Provide equitable compensation and benefits as well as access to professional preparation programs and career advancement opportunities to boost program quality and create a workforce culture that’s based on equity, fairness, stability, and pride.
This action area is addressed by Agenda priorities #1, #2, and #6
Robust System Infrastructure and Local Partnerships
Promote an equitable, accountable, and responsive early childhood system and develop cross-sector partnerships at the state and local levels. The state’s early childhood system can be built on the existing foundation of formal and informal structures, strong partnerships, local innovations, and effective practices.
This action area is addressed by Agenda priorities #6 and #7.
Healthy Beginnings
Identify barriers and set priorities that impact the physical health, mental health, and early relational health of children, their caregivers, and early childhood professionals in order to effectively facilitate transitions and nurture the foundation of all growth, development, and learning for children from prenatal through age 8, including the integration and coordination of the health system with other early childhood systems and programs.
This action area is addressed by Agenda priorities #4, #9, and #10.