The rapidly growing science of how early brain development and childhood experiences influence a child’s lifelong health and success is providing an important focus for local communities that want to support young families during their children’s early years.
Following on the momentum of the ‘Strengthening the Future for Children’ conference in Castine in October, twenty-six representatives of community-based organizations met on December 7 at the Sedgwick Elementary School. Concerned community members, medical providers, teachers, and early childhood specialists from area schools, Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, Child and Family Opportunities, Child Development Services, Maine Families, St. Francis Community Fund, Castine Advocacy Coalition for Early Education, United Way, and Ready by 21 hope to join forces to support strategies that will improve early childhood outcomes on the peninsula and Deer Isle.
Amy Vaughn, Director of Healthy Peninsula, gave an overview of the purpose of the work group, stating that since no one organization or group can single-handedly address the many factors that influence our children’s early years, ‘Collective Impact’ is a model for change that can be successful with complex issues like early childhood development. The four elements of collective impact are: a common vision; shared, measureable goals; mutually reinforcing activities; and, continuous communication including tracking results, identifying problem areas, and honing in on effective solutions.
Vaughn explained, “The idea is that by working together in a disciplined way, we can link our resources in smarter and more efficient ways. There are other models of collective impact across the country… one is the Harlem Children’s Zone in NYC. Another is the STRIVE partnership in Ohio. Closer to home, the Community Caring Collaborative in Washington County is built on these principles. This doesn’t mean a uniform approach across the area… the group could agree to shared goals and measures, but what happens in Stonington to reach those goals might look very different from what happens in Brooksville. “
The group went on to identify local Early Childhood needs and challenges, as well as the opportunities and resources that are already in place, but may not be widely known or fully utilized. There was also a discussion of shared goals and desired measures or outcomes, and plans for continued meetings.
Healthy Peninsula’s Ready by 21 project has already launched an early childhood work group built on the ‘Collective Impact’ model in Deer Isle/Stonington. This group started in October and already has work underway to better connect young children and their families to needed supports and services.
For more information, contact Amy Vaughn at 359-2441 or avaughn@healthypeninsula.org.
By Sandra Phoenix
December 2011
Early Childhood Work Group Newsletter
