State Policy Leaders Recommend Solutions to Improve Early Care and Education

Comprehensive Early Childhood System for Children Vital to South Carolina’s Future

Three statewide organizations – Children’s Trust of South Carolina, the Institute for Child Success and United Way Association of South Carolina – along with statewide partners presented at a luncheon today the policy road map for South Carolina to create a brighter future for young children and their families. The2015 Early Childhood Common Agenda for South Carolina reflects months of work from a coalition of experts and offers specific recommendations to build a smart, comprehensive early childhood system for children 0-5 years old.

“We call on our legislative and policy leaders to use these specific recommendations to guide and determine legislative priorities and initiatives for early childhood and education policy,” said Sue Williams, chief executive officer of Children’s Trust of South Carolina. “Supporting early childhood health, education and development yields a brighter future for South Carolina. Today’s children are the basis for tomorrow’s social and economic prosperity.”

Jim Squires, senior research fellow at National Institute for Early Education Research, delivered the keynote message at the luncheon.

“If there is one area where we can find common ground, it is promoting the well-being of our young children,” Squires said. “Common sense and research converge to demonstrate the importance of supporting the development and learning of every young child, including the pivotal roles played by responsive parenting and healthy communities. We have the opportunity and responsibility to act on all levels – from the home to the classroom to the State House – to make South Carolina an even better place to raise a child. Fortunately, we have the knowledge to make it happen now.”

Funding for the project was provided to Children’s Trust by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.* Building on a vision set in the first edition in 2014, key stakeholders from across South Carolina worked throughout the year to update, expand and create specific policy recommendations for this year’s revised version. Their work focuses upon three areas – early care and education, strong family supports, and investment and accountability. Highlights of the recommendations call for legislators and policy makers to:

•  Increase participation in the quality improvement system for child care and early care services. Clear definitions and standards for quality early care and education provided needed accountability to increase protections and reduce risk factors for children and families.
• Expand voluntary home visiting programs. Vulnerable pregnant and parenting families benefit from home visiting and intervention services, which support children through the prenatal stage of development to age five.
• Explore economic and geographic opportunities that support families. Parents in low-income and at-risk communities must be supported by programs and have policies that enable them to have equitable access to quality early care services for their children.
• Support parent-to-parent early care models and programs with proven track records of success. Children benefit from the full maintenance and regulatory review of organizations charged with supporting their health, education, and social development.

“Supporting early childhood health, education and development yields long-term returns in future investments and a brighter future for South Carolina,” said Jamie Moon, president of the Institute for Childhood Success. “We envision all children ready for school, stronger families, safer communities and the many other long- and short-term benefits from making investments in early care and education.”

Tim Ervolina, president and chief professional officer of United Way Association of South Carolina, delivered the closing remarks. He emphasized` the importance of collective action.

“To make progress, we all must work together,” said Ervolina. “We thank the policy leaders from throughout South Carolina who devoted their time and talents to developing these strong and comprehensive recommendations.”

For the full report and list of recommendations, please visitscchildren.org/CommonAgenda.

In addition the three partner organizations, the following organizations have committed their support for the 2015 Early Childhood Common Agenda:

 

Children’s Hospital of Greenville Health System

Communities in Schools in South Carolina

Darlington County First Steps

Greenville County Frist Steps

Head Start Association

League of Women Voters of South Carolina

Mary Black Foundation**

PASOs

Save the Children Action Network

South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

South Carolina Children’s Hospital Collaborative

South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs

Southern Education Foundation

The Riley Institute***

Trident United Way

United Way of Aiken County, Inc.

United Way of Anderson County

United Way of Florence County

United Way of Greenville County

United Way of Greenwood and Abbeville Counties

United Way of the Midlands

United Way of Pickens

United Way ofthe Piedmont

United Way of Sumter, Clarendon and Lee Counties

 

*The partnership thanks the Foundation for their support and acknowledges that the finding and conclusions presented in the report are those of the authors alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Foundation.

 

**The Mary Black Foundation endorses the public policy agenda but does not take a position on a specific piece of legislation.

 

***The Riley Institute at Furman support the Early Childhood Common Agenda items rising from the Business/Economic Committee.