Please join us on Zoom for the next meeting of The Early Childhood Agenda!

You can register here.

The Agenda is a statewide effort hosted by Strategies for Children that unites advocates, providers, and parents who are working together to create a stronger early childhood system.

Specifically, the Agenda’s goal is to provide babies, toddlers, preschoolers, young children, and their families with all the resources they need to grow and thrive: from child care and early learning opportunities to healthcare, housing, food, and other services.

We can only be successful, however, if we ensure that parents and the professionals who work with children and families every day have a seat at decision-making tables.

Thanks to the participation and feedback of more than 1,000 people, the Agenda focuses on 10 priorities. And we are happy to report that we have seen significant progress on priority #10 — addressing childhood hunger and ensuring “all students (PK-12) have access to free school meals.” Over the summer, Governor Maura Healey signed the state’s FY ’24 budget, which continues the pandemic-era practice of making school meals free for all students.

There is still more work to do!

This summer, Strategies for Children launched seven workgroups to start tackling the 10 priorities. And we’ve partnered with other organizations, including the Common Start Coalition and the Healthy Families Tax Credit Coalition.

Please join us.

Sign up for our email list.

Read our statement on “belonging” and how important it is for everyone to get involved.

Review our list of 10 priorities and find the interest that interests you. Then join an established coalition to help out. These include working with:

• the Common Start Coalition to strengthen the early education and care system

• the Healthy Families Tax Credit Coalition to support tax credit fairness

• the Lift Our Kids Coalition to establish an adequate cash assistance safety net, or

• the Child and Adolescent Health Initiative to create a children’s cabinet like this one in Somerville

You can also join an emerging workgroup that’s gearing up to advocate for change.

 We recognize that true progress comes from elevating the voices of those closest to the challenges. So, whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or you’ve recently learned about this initiative, please join our fall convening of The Early Childhood Agenda, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. on Zoom.

We will hear from our partners, provide an overview of where we are and of what steps to take next, and share opportunities for how you can get involved.

This session will be facilitated in English with Spanish language translation – REGISTER TODAY!