All Elected Officials Have a Role to Play in Early Childhood Success
Local government has a key role in ensuring all young children have the resources and opportunities to reach their full potential and with their families, live healthy and prosperous lives. Understanding how to navigate one’s city governance structure is essential to building strong and effective programs, policies, and practices for families and their young children, prenatal through 8 years of age.
The Women in Municipal Government (WIMG) Constituency Group has endorsed the findings of the Institute for Youth, Education and Families (YEF).
“The City of Gaithersburg has used one of the key takeaways found in ‘Navigating the Political Landscape for Early Childhood Success’ to improve early childhood outcomes and kindergarten readiness through our program ‘The Basics.’ In Gaithersburg, we have focused on children and their families by engaging families around science-based parenting and caregiving principles that support social, emotional and cognitive development in children.”
WIMG First Vice President Laurie-Anne Sayles, Councilmember, Gaithersburg, MD
No matter how their municipal government is organized or what structures are in place, all elected officials and leaders have a role to play in early childhood success for their communities. There are four key attributes in successfully navigating the political landscape.
Key Takeaways:
- Know Your Governments Structures and Power Influences
- Lead With Children, Families, and Communities at the Center
- Collaborate Across All Departments
- Build Political Will
To see how these attributes are put into practice, download the resource brief.
Early Childhood Municipal Policy 101: Navigating the Political Landscape
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