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March 22, 2004
National League of Cities launches early childhood technical support project for communities across US. Two CT towns are included.
| Editor’s Note:
The following article was published in the NLC's Nations City Weekly. Two Connecticut, towns, Mansfield and Hamden, were selected to be included in the special support. As the project unfolds, “Towns Help Kids Succeed” Initiative of CCM and the Commission on Children will link with this effort, complementing the support on early childhood issues that will come to Hamden and Mansfield. Our congratulations to those communities. |
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NLC Launches Early Childhood Technical Assistance Project
by Kate Currier
March 22, 2004
A diverse group of twelve cities will receive technical assistance as part
of the "Freddie Mac Foundation Early Childhood Challenge" project being
carried out by NLC's Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF
Institute).
The project will assist municipal leaders in developing long-range early
childhood plans for their local communities. The project builds upon NLC's 2003 City Challenge for Early Childhood Success and focuses on cities and towns that are committed to early childhood efforts, but still in the early stages of a strategic planning process.
"Municipal leaders play a vital role in supporting our youngest citizens,"
said Clifford Johnson, executive director of the YEF Institute. "This project will help city officials create targeted plans that improve outcomes for young children in their communities."
In addition to Mansfield and Hamden in Connecticut, the selected cities are: Columbus, Ohio; Ft. Worth, Tex.; Greenville, S.C.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Jackson, Miss.; Kokomo, Ind.; Northglenn, Colo.; Ralston, Neb.; St. Louis, Mo.; and Tulsa, Okla.
Over the next 10 months, the selected cities will develop and adopt strong,
outcome-oriented early childhood plans. The early childhood plans will address the key needs of a municipality's youngest residents in areas such as early learning, health care, and parent education and support.
Key steps in the planning process include: conducting an assessment of local
early childhood needs; creating a local task force of community
representatives to spearhead planning efforts; consulting with parents and
other key stakeholders; and identifying goals and priorities for early
childhood in the community.
Participants will receive individualized technical assistance from YEF
Institute staff including access to resources and expertise through
conference calls, sharing of materials among selected sites and YEF
Institute review of local materials and activities.
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