OUR PROCESS
A Co-Created Plan
Washington's Early Learning Coordination Plan was written with the goal of dismantling systemic racism and interrupting the patterns and practices that contribute to marginalizing, oppressing, and imposing cultural norms on our communities. We are committed to facilitate intentional design to interrupt these patterns and to create an integrated early childhood system that works for all. One way we are bringing that commitment to life, is by transferring as much power as possible to the people that we serve by co-creating the ELCP with an intentional focus to find and elevate the experiences of historically marginalized people.
Needs Assessment
After meeting with parents, caregivers and other early childhood professionals in local and statewide meetings, robust quantitative (numerical) and qualitative (experience-based) data was used to create Washington’s Statewide Needs Assessment which revealed many challenges and opportunities.
2019 - 2020
Goals & Strategies
Using the Statewide Needs Assessment, the Washington State Racial Equity Theory of Change, and their own expertise, diverse groups of people used Liberatory Design to create the goals and strategies.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, videos were created by community members to gather public feedback.
A review for pro-equity and anti-racist language and messaging was also conducted.
2020-2021
“From the very first meeting I felt the difference in the room! We were engaged in co-creating goals that began by centering people–children, families, and workforce–and using the first-hand knowledge and experience from community members. It’s been liberating to work in a way that honors community members and their lived experience and is not dictated by far-removed bureaucracies!”
– Sandy Maldonado, Director, Child Care Aware of WA/Child/Care Provider Advocate
Coordination Plan
The steering committee combined these insights to produce the final Early Learning Coordination Plan (ELCP), design the ELCP website, and develop the ELCP Impact Network.