For families with young children, high quality early learning services can enhance healthy child development and support their ability to keep their children safe. In Washington, however, fewer than half of eligible families involved with child protection were reaching these programs. With pro-bono technical assistance from the GPL, the state sought to overcome these barriers and connect more families to early learning programs.
The Innovation
With support from the GPL, DCYF sought to revamp its statewide referral protocols in order to better connect families involved with CPS to early learning services. The state also created early learning service navigator positions within pilot DCYF offices; the navigators — who have expertise in both the child welfare and early learning systems — work alongside CPS caseworkers to help interested families successfully start services.
The Results
In their efforts to connect more families to early learning programs, Washington DCYF has seen promising results. These include a large share of families being offered early learning services – including many families of color, and scaling the navigator position to connect priority families to early learning services statewide.
Better connecting our child-welfare involved families to early care and education is not only foundational to the creation of our new agency, it’s critical to improve outcomes for children and strengthen families so they flourish.Vickie Ybarra
Director of Office of Innovation, Alignment and Accountability, Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Better connecting our child-welfare involved families to early care and education is not only foundational to the creation of our new agency, it’s critical to improve outcomes for children and strengthen families so they flourish.Vickie Ybarra
