For immediate release:?July 12, 2023? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?(23-095)

Washington state receives funding to advance equity and family-centered early childhood systems

Project seeks to improve the health and well-being of young children and families

OLYMPIA ? The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is proud to share Washington is one of three states selected by the Early Childhood Developmental Health Systems (ECDHS): Evidence to Impact Center to take part in a multiyear project to advance comprehensive early childhood developmental (ECD) systems across the state.

As part of the project, Washington will serve as an Implementation Site and receive technical assistance to identify strengths and opportunities for ECD systems-building, connect with other states and subject matter experts, and have access to curated resources. The Implementation Sites 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. The efforts will advance improvements in early developmental health and well-being (such as child flourishing, school readiness, and family resilience, as prioritized by local/state needs) and reduced disparities associated with childhood poverty.

?This is a unique opportunity to co-design strategies with communities experiencing high levels of childhood poverty by building on strengths and addressing areas of opportunity to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities,? said Lacy M. Fehrenbach, MPH, Chief of Prevention, Safety, and Health, DOH. ?The focus on childhood poverty within this work also aligns with the 10-year plan to dismantle poverty in Washington. Together with our partners, we are committed to strengthening coordination with communities and embracing innovation that creates pathways for solutions.?

DOH will partner with WithinReach/Help Me Grow Washington, First Five Fundamentals/Washington Communities for Children, the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Health Care Authority to improve coordination between state and community-based partners to use existing infrastructure, resources, and planned initiatives to strengthen connections between community-based navigators/coordinators. The project is funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

?We are excited to collaborate with the Implementation Sites to improve early developmental health and well-being,? said Debbie Cheatham, Director of the ECDHS: Evidence to Impact Center. ?Our work will center ECD systems-building strategies around families and equity to improve outcomes and reduce disparities in health and family well-being.??

The ECDHS: Evidence to Impact Center is led by ZERO TO THREE in partnership with several of the nation?s top early childhood and health system organizations, including 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. Learn more about the Center and Implementation Sites project: ZERO TO THREE ECDHS Site Selection.

The DOH?website is your source for a healthy dose of information. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for the DOH blog,?Public Health Connection.?

Visit the DOH Newsroom?for all news releases.?
Subscribe to get news releases in Spanish.?You will continue to receive the English version.
Washington State Department of Health is your source for a healthy dose of information.?