ECAS Updates Spring 2022

Update on Efforts Overview, Spring 2022

HawaiiActionStrategy.org / March 2022

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Children are

Children dev

elop on track

Children are

We thank the many actors working to support early childhood development who share their mana`o through the ECAS network.

ready to lear

n

Children are

healthy

safe

The ECAS network and partners are working on a broad set of linked initiatives designed to support the four ECAS goals.

Taking Action for Hawai`i’s Youngest Keiki Early Childhood Action Strategy (ECAS) seeks to be a catalyst for cha in the way we suppor nge t early childhood dev elopment by working the connections and to improve alignment between syst em actors, by strengt policies, practices and hening resources available to support this collective and, ultimately, by help work, ing to shift our shared understanding of how to support early childho best od development and wellbeing.

We thank the many acto rs working to support ear ly childhood developmen t who share their mana`o thro ugh the Early Childhood Act ion Strategy network.

ECAS Network Partners

* Aloha United Way * American Academy of

Pediatrics, Hawai‘i Chap ter * American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Haw ai‘i Section * Association for Infant Mental Health in Hawai‘i (AIM H HI) * Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kauai * Campaign for Grade Level Reading * Child and Family Service * Child Care Advisory Council * Cole Academy * Conscious Communities * Department of Education - Homeless Concerns Offic

* Department of Health

e

- Alcohol and Drug Abus e Division - Child and Adolesce nt Mental Health Division - Chronic Disease Prev ention and Health Promotion - Early Intervention Services - Family Health Serv ices Division - Maternal and Child Health Branch - Office of Planning, Policy and Program Development - Public Health Nurs ing - Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

* Department of Human Services HawaiiActionStrategy.org / - Benefit, Employment and Support Services (BES SD) - Child Welfare Serv ices (CW

* Family Hui Hawai‘i * Family Programs Hawai‘i * Family Support Hawai‘i * FrameWorks Institute * Hawai‘i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

* Hawai‘i Appleseed * Hawai‘i Association for Education of Young Children (HAE

YC)

* Hawai‘i Children’s Action

Network (HCAN) * Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) * Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP) * Hawai‘i Early Intervention Coordination Council (HEICC) * Hawai‘i Literacy Haw ai‘i P-20 * Partnerships for Educ ation * Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Haw ai‘i * Ho‘oikaika * Honolulu Community College (HCC) * Hui for Excellence in Education (HE‘E) * Imua Maui Family Support Services * INPEACE for Human Services (IHS * Institute March 2022 ) * Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT) * Islands of Hope - M

* Maui County

- Early Childhood Reso urce

Center

* Mental Health America of Hawai‘i * MEO Head Start * Molokai Child Abuse Prevention Pathways

* ‘Ohana Nui * Papa Ola Lokahi * Parents and Children Together (PACT) * Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF)

* People Attentive to Children (PATCH) * PHOCUSED * Prevent Child Abuse Hawai‘i * Queen Liliu‘okalani Trust * Read To Me International * Salvation Army Family Treatment Services, Women’s Way

* Seagull Schools * SMALLIFY * State of Hawai‘i Commission on Fatherhood

-

University of Hawai‘i (UH) Center on the Family College of Education Office of Public Health Studies School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

* University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of

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The ECAS network and partners devoted attention in 2021 to the broad set of challenges to early childhood development, health, safety and learning brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

ECAS 2021 Priorities » Sustain and Strengthen Child Care and Early Learning » Prevent Family Violence and Protect Early Childhood Mental Health » Support Safe Prenatal Care and Delivery » Reach the Hardest to Reach Families

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Examples of responses to Hawai`i’s EC needs

Early adversity has a critical impact on a child’s social and emotional development.

Risk factors include Addressing disparities in access and outcomes • Growing up in poverty

Socioeconomically disadvantaged children and adolescents are two to three times more likely to develop mental health conditions than peers with higher socioeconomic status.3

Pandemic conditions had a negative impact on the mental health of pregnant women and parents.

HI 2021

The U.S. Surgeon General issued a public health advisory.

On December 7, 2021, U.S. Surgeon General Murthy issued a rare warning and call to action to address the mental health challenges confronting youth. National data shows alarming increases in symptoms of depression and anxiety, negative behaviors and conditions associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)3

"It would be a tragedy if we beat back one public health crisis only to allow another to grow in its place.”

HI, 2020

A new study reveals that children born during the pandemic are having issues with motor skills and social development due to the stress the pandemic has on the mother during pregnancy.5

Parents’ untreated mental illness can have grave impacts on their child’s24% development.

Increase in share of mental health– related doctor visits4

– Surgeon General Murthy

US 2019 to 2020

US 2022

MENTAL HEALTH DOC VISITS

Children 5-11

• Socialization deficits • Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorders • Life-long mental health problems of their own

Children under 6 years of age have a similar rate of mental illness as older children and youth.6

Struggling adults might seem withdrawn or have limited A young child’s brain ability to nurture. is extremely

Children as young as 0-5 experience mental health disorders.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH)7

malleable to stress.

IECMH issues include

No other stage depends more on the child’s environment for growth and development.

Early experiences shape the brain, affecting lifelong health, behaviour and learning.

• • • •

ADHD Anxiety and depression Post-traumatic stress disorder Obsessive compulsive disorder

Lifelong impacts include increased risks for • • • • •

Poor physical and mental health Alcoholism and drug use Low school readiness rates Absenteeism and high school dropout Criminal justice involvement

Early warning signs are

• Developmental delays • Inconsolable crying • Failure to seek comfort from caregivers • Lack of curiosity

HI 2020

cognitive development that prepares children for both school and success in life.

Lifelong impacts lead to increased state spending across multiple programs, linked to lifetime costs of approximately $200,000 per child.7

Itʻs imperative that children and their families have the mental health supports they need to manage stressors in productive ways.

Pandemic-related safety measures reduced in-person interactions. This isolation made it harder to recognize signs of child abuse, mental health concerns, and other challenges.

01/2022

11

10

Since the pandemic, Early Intervention has seen a dramatic decline in infant and toddler social and emotional development.2

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL

9

HI, 2020

youngest keiki and their families have

Birth to Age 3

Support Safe Perinatal Care and Delivery of adults with »75% Expanded home visitation program for serious mental illness midwifery 41% are parents. bringing perinatal care to the most vulnerable families Hawai`i has the highest percentage of » With partners EPIC ʻOhana, PATH Clinic, and AIMH-HI, self-reported suicide Adults with child in thoughts among people household are morefunding and with from the H.T. Hayashi Foundation, who took an online likely to have experienced screening piloting a peer depression support program for perinatal mental health issues during the pandemic. over the last six months substance using women » Supported Hawaiʻi joining the national Alliance for As a result, the child may A sound social and emotional struggle wih launching pad Health (AIM), working to Innovationbase onis the Maternal for all other development – • Behavioral and learning mortality and morbidity the physical, motor maternal and difficulties reduce preventable

• Anxiety and depression been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Recent trends in mental health indicators • Post-traumatic stress symptoms for keiki in Hawai`i are alarming.

The relationship between infant and caregiver • Feelings of loneliness8 is crucial to healthy brain development.

US, 2020

• Involvement with the Child Welfare System

75%

Pregnant and postpartum women show increased levels of Mental health challenges for Hawai`i’s

A secure, warm, responsive and predictable relationship with at least one caregiver influences the formation of neural structures in the brain that lead to infant well-being. Even in situations of stress, secure attachment relationships can help buffer the developing brain from significant harm.1

• Exposure to family violence Vulnerable keiki are • Intellectual disabilities at higher risk of mental • Living in immigrant households or health challenges. racial and ethnic minority families

www.HawaiiActionStrategy.org

While later interventions are effective and essential, the return on investment is greatest in the earliest years.

1

We know that mental health is shaped by many factors, from our genes and brain chemistry to our relationships with family, friends and teachers, neighborhood conditions, and larger social forces and policies.

info@ecashawaii.org

Investing in our youngest keiki and ‘ohana mental health needs will prevent more costly mental health treatments, learning challenges, drug use, school shootings, family violence and "Mental health challenges in children, suicides, all impacting the health and economic well-being adolescents, and young adults are of our families, workplaces and communities.

HawaiiActionStrategy.org / March real, and they are 2022 widespread.

But most importantly, they are

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Examples of responses to Hawai`i’s EC needs

Addressing disparities in access and outcomes Securing the Wellbeing of Families with Young Children » Expanded the NEST breastfeeding text support system providing access to peer parent educators and clinical specialists » With Breastfeeding Hawaiʻi, and Project Coordinator Krista Olson, gathering input from stakeholders across the state to improve access to breastfeeding support » Expanded access to family attachment and early childhood development support through Family Hui Hawaii and Words Matter / LENA efforts

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der N.

Examples of responses to Hawai`i’s EC needs

Addressing disparities in access and outcomes AGE OF VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT6

42% 31%

DHS 2020

582

434

375

Ages 0-5

Ages 6-11

Ages 12-17

The pandemic created a perfect storm for rising rates of family violence in Hawai`i

Trends in family violence in Hawai‘i are alarming.

ms were Hawaiian 60% higher than based on their ate population.

The Covid-19 pandemic upended the country, with enormous economic and social implications.

Given the increased number of families living in virtual confinement coupled with massive economic disarray, the pandemic created the conditions for a rise in family violence.

Violence occurs in all types of families, regardless of socio-economic status. At the same time, there is a strong association between economic crisis, parental stress and rising rates of child maltreatment.1 Lockdowns and pandemicrelated economic impacts exacerbated factors typically associated with family violence.

CHARACTERISTICS OF VICTIMS OF 300% CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES

2020

38%

Increase in calls DHS 2020 to crisis hotline

“I’m hearing some of the physical abuse cases are more serious, with more children in hospitals as a result of abuse.”

2

Share of calls coming directly from the hospital3

Jasmine Mau Mukai, Statewide Director for the Children’s Justice Centers

Calls and caseloads related to family violence increased during the pandemic.

ce intimate partner on-Hawaiian women, or women ages 18-29, aiians are 55% higher men.6 16%

Prevalance of Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN)

Prevalance of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT

5,258

2021

During the pandemic lockdown:

Households without a previous history of domestic violence were a driving factor behind the increases in domestic violence calls.7

9%

HI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS) CHILD WELFARE SERVICES5,6

1,321

+124%

14.5%

2019

2020

2021

Increase in the share of calls that reached the threshold of concern to trigger response 2019

2020

20,425

20,040

4,706

5,389

Calls to Helpline

Client contacts

+485%

Safety plans

+29.3%

Calls Response triggered

5.5% 2019

Isolation prevents reports of Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN).

“When our state was on lockdown, our calls dropped by 24%.”

Preventing Family Violence

» Building a family-strengths-based framework designed in collaboration with families and 40% service providers Hawaiian or »part-Hawaiian Launched website NurtureDaily.org » Launched public service announcements on TV and 17% Mixed race across social media platforms » Prototyped the Aloha at Home `Ohana toolkits » Based on positive feedback from the prototype, developing plans to scale, replicate, and further refine the effort » Anchoring all messaging in aloha and Hawaiian values, while promoting the protective factors

Others include: Other Pacific Islander, Samoan, Black, Robert Boyack, Child and Family Japanese , Chinese , American Indian/Alaskan Native

100 fewer child welfare petitions filed in family court

US, 2019 vs 2020

HI, 2019 vs 2020

www.HawaiiActionStrategy.org

hance to develop to their full fe, secure and nurturing homes. abuse and neglect and are violence experience emotional, hat can affect their development, term school success. Victims of ve a more difficult time holding opportunities and earn lower equences such as higher rates of

Services2

HAWAI‘I9

Child maltreatment reports dropped by 40 – 60%

ne the health and wellbeing of reventing violence in the home is ood development.

01/2022

2020

Confirmed child victims

COVID-19 left parents and children confined to their homes, cut off from friends, neighbors, teachers, and others who might have reported signs of abuse and violence and intervened to help potential victims escape violent situations.

NATIONWIDE8

1,393

16%

White

among Native Hawaiians ssive external conditions of self-determination, res, and economic stress.10 2020

Filipino

HONOLULU DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTION CENTER (DVAC)4

6,136

Domestic Violence (DV) calls

27%

1

info@ecashawaii.org HawaiiActionStrategy.org / March 2022

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45

MILLION

12

Children in poverty hear fewer words at home.3

94% 63%

MILLION

Children in poverty 3+ are less to be RISKlikely FACTORS read to frequently.4

65%

11%

Children in poverty are less likely to attend high-quality preschools.5

20% In Hawai‘i, too many More than half (58%) of 1-2 young children RISK FACTORS Hawai‘i’s youngest children are exposed to live in families made vulner3+ 47% RISK FACTORS adverse childhood able by Adverse Childhood conditions that can 11% Experiences (ACEs). lead to toxic stress.In Hawai‘i, too many of young More than half11% (58%) of children in Hawai‘i 1-2 young children face three or more risk factors.

RISK FACTORS Hawai‘i’s youngest children are exposed to live in families made vulner47% adverse childhood able by Adverse Childhood conditions that can Experiences (ACEs). lead to toxic stress.

11% of young children in Hawai‘i Toxic stress can damage face three or more risk factors. the developing brain.

Examples of responses to Hawai`i’s EC needs

Align & support cross-sector leadership and long term planning efforts 6

6

LEARNING EMOTION

Integrated Infant and Early Childhood Behavioral Health (IIECBH) Strategic Plan

NEGLECT & ABUSE LASTING ANXIETY ONGOING STRESS NO PROTECTIVE ADULTS MISSING ROUTINES

But when stress lasts longer it LEARNING NEGLECT & ABUSE Stress is tolerable when it is can become toxic, especially when LASTING ANXIETY short lived, or when it is buffered the protection of conEMOTION children lack ONGOING STRESS by supportive relationships, like NOsupportive PROTECTIVE ADULTS sistent relationships.

MISSING ROUTINES a strong family.

Toxic stress releases chemicals that disrupt critical brain connections and can derail healthy development.7

» Focused on defining shared infant and early childhood behavioral health competencies, growing Hawai`i’s pool of infant and early childhood mental health specialists, establishing a clear screening, referral and utilization system for providers and families, building out the governance, financing and data systems required to scale and sustain the system » Karen Shore joined the team in January to coordinate implementation of the plan

Stress is tolerable when it is Toxic stress can damage short lived, or when it is buffered the developing brain. by supportive relationships, like a strong family.

But when lasts longer it Toxic stress can lead stress to lifelong problems in can become toxic, especially when learning, behavior, and mental and physical health. children lack the protection of consistent supportive relationships.

Toxic stress releases chemicals that disrupt critical brain connections and can derail healthy development.7

Toxic stress can lead to lifelong problems in learning, behavior, and mental and physical health.

www.hawaiiactionstrategy.org/ efforts-iecbh

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Examples of responses to Hawai`i’s EC needs

e is vital to aDeveloping community’s strategies to navigate an ever-changing landscape ng but Hawai`i’s fragile system devastated by the pandemic 64,066 64%

Child care is vital to a community’s well-being but Hawai`i’s fragile system has been devastated by the pandemic

20,157 Hawai`i’s supply of licensed/

An extensive body of research shows that

registered* a child’s experiences in the first years of (0-5) Estimated # 64,066 of Child care Children child care is life have a measurable impact on brain insufficient to and later success in school 64% (0-5) livingdevelopment families children seats availandin life. For more and more children, meet the needs early life experiences take place in 20,157 of working withthese allcare. parents able for child High-quality child care provides in need of families. children with the learning environment 2 that is critical for school readiness and working children (0-5)3 child care leads to improved educational, economic,

HI 2019

HI 2019 HI 2019

• Over half of Hawai`i’s children (0-5) were in nonparental child care 10+ hours/week

• Increased costs to implement new health and safety requirements

HI 2019

HI 2021

HI 2021

More than 3,600 child care spaces for children (0-5) have been lost during the pandemic in Hawai`i.

Pandemic related challenges lead to

Pre-pandemic4

Estimated # of Child care children (0-5) seats available for in need of children (0-5)3 child care2

Children (0-5) living in families with all parents working

health and well-being outcomes for children, lasting into adulthood.1

Hawai`i’s supply of licensed/ registered* child care is insufficient to meet the needs of working families.

733

HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Licensed child care centers and family/ group child care homes (Serving children 0-5)

More than 3,600 child care spaces for children during the pandemic in Hawai`i.

• Loss of staff to other sectors

• Decreased revenue some $300 million (0-5) have been lost from limited in state-wide • Hawai`i’s child care industry generated

20,157

Provider Support / Capacity Building

SEAT LOSS

12/2019

PROGRAM LOSS5

enrollment and capacity

revenue each year

23,803

12/2021

Licensed/registered child care spaces (serving 0-5)6

7%

3,646 15%

HI 2019 to 2021

733

Where licensed child care is available, high tuition puts care out of reach for many families.

Percent of family income spent on child care

Licensed child care 7% centers and family/ group child care homes (Serving children 0-5) Federal benchmark for child care affordability7

Household Income 200% of FPL $40,0808

SINGLE PARENT

Avg cost $8229

1 INFANT IN FAMILY CHILD CARE

“True cost” of licensed child care is 42% more than the typical prices programs charge.12

e

25%

01/2022

27%

HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

• Financial assistance is available through federal and statefunded subsidy programs

• Subsidy assistance is not available to a large number of families who do not meet the eligibility requirements but can’t afford child care on their own

23,803 TWO PARENTS

20,157

Household Income State Median $ 108,49810

1 INFANT & 1 PRESCHOOLER IN CENTER

Avg cost $1,537 + $92111

Tuition rates do not represent the true cost of operating programs at high-quality standards, with fairly compensated teaching staff. Most child care programs operate with razor-thin margins which pose significant challenges to providing high-quality care and maintaining the business viability necessary to sustain capacity and services.

PROGRAM LOSS5

12/2019

www.HawaiiActionStrategy.org

7%

1

12/2021

Licensed/registered child care spaces (serving 0-5)6

» Family Child Care Pathways » Ka ‘Upena Shared Services » Comprehensive System of Personnel SEAT LOSS Development (CSPD) 3,646 15%

HI 2019 to 2021

of family income spent on child care

25%

27%

• Financial assistance is available through federal and statefunded subsidy programs

• Subsidy assistance is not available to a large number of families who do not meet the eligibility requirements but can’t

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Examples of responses to Hawai`i’s EC needs

Increasing investments

The Early Childhood Funders’ Hui » Continuing focus on relief, recovery and sustainability » Investing over $2M in efforts to support early childhood wellbeing since the start of the pandemic » Developing a community of practice to share lessons learned and identifying ways how to sustain successful pilot efforts » Projects emerging from the ECAS network are often realized through blended and matched government and nongovernment funding

MENEHUNE FOUNDATION

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Examples of responses to Hawai`i’s EC needs EARLY CHILDHO

HAWAI`I COUNTY

2022

OD

Strengthening our shared understanding COMMUNITY PR

OFILE

le is intended to od Community Profi young nty Early Childho of families with The Hawai`i Cou of the wellbeing ing and erst und gs together data strengthen our munity Profile brin g economic County. The Com udin ai`i incl Haw in ng, lbei children ily wel status of child and fam cation, and the on key dimensions y care and edu children. sing, health, earl ilies with young conditions, hou to support fam help t tha es of key resourc

EN YOUNG CHILDR FAMILIES WITH

ai`i County. households in Haw g There are 71,193 s are families raisin te 19,098 household 18. 2019 ACS, 1-Yr Estima children under Age

ty population 29.7% of the coun aiian is Native Haw in or Native Hawaiian race. another combination with OHA Wiki Native

Hawai`i County population 0-4

Households with only children under 5 young children Households with children and school-aged

er

*or Pacific Island

13% 15%

ethnicity Hispanic/Latino born Migrant/foreign

young children Households with by single parent (under 5) headed

ICS FAMILY ECONOM Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Children living in poverty

8,284 2,057

Age 0-18 Age 0-5

19% 19%

ty The Federal Pover ure Level (FPL) is a meas of income used by t the U.S. governmenis to determine who dies, eligible for subsi ts. programs, and benefi

ALICE Family Survival Budget d, ALICE (Asset Limite , Income Constrained ies are Employed) famil make often forced to such difficult choices care, as forgoing healthquality settling for lower g less childcare, buyin failing healthy foods, or nce. to carry car insura

Hawai`i County

43%

ehold Household Household Hous 3-4 with 5+ with with 1-2 children children children

Children under 5

Single parent with child under 5

Pacific aiians and other 25% of Native Haw County live in poverty. ai`i Islanders in Haw

1/2

Hilo View Hawaiian Ocean Mountain View Captain Cook Hawaiian Beaches

704 507 287 151 131

$30,480

$56,388

Low income

17%

Federal Poverty Level

19%

Eligibility for es free/reduced lunch

28%

2019 ACS, 5-Yr Estimate

» Understanding the current status of young children and their families on key dimensions of child wellbeing in each county, starting with Maui and Hawai`i Counties

E project United Way’s ALIC income estimates that an ed for of $67,600 is need ai`i Co. Haw families to live in families are Close to half of fall that living on incomes level below the ALICE

Families living below ALICE survival budget

48%

70% Kau 65% Pahoa-Kalapana 61% North Hilo 57% View Keaau-Mountain

Child Care Provider Tracking

rty Line

under Federal Pove

2020 Data Book

Grandparents 4,655 raising children ents 32% of grandpar dren dchil gran g raisin . are in the workforce ents 8% of grandpar ldren raising grandchi live in poverty.

HI County

te 2019 ACS, 1-Yr Estima

36%

Hawai`i County Children Under 5 in Poverty

931 12%

380

Community Profiles

FFY2021, HI DHS

$60,960

$67,600

$67,080

Single Parent Median Income

Households living

4,868

834 children live in foster care Foster children under 5

te 2019 ACS, 1-Yr Estima

te 2019 ACS, 1-Yr Estima

Jobs and economic e conditions influenc to lies the ability of fami selves provide for them and their children. s also Economic condition s stres contribute to the rience. that families expe in Hawai`i Unemployment for County is low, but s many families wage the with have not kept up . high cost of living

2,982

HI County e Median Family Incom

County’s 21.5% of Hawai`i e up population is mad h. yout of children and the In 2019, 5.7% of n county’s populatio 5. age was younger than

Hawaiian Data 2021

33% White s 30% Two or more race 23% Asian * 12% Native Hawaiian 2% Other

Budget

11,414

7,850

Households with children under 5

ALICE Survival

Children under Age 5

$29,126

of FPL) (185% of FPL) (200%

for a family of four, 2021 income levels n under 18 with childre

g children Families with youn stance* assi receiving public

41%

y en 0-4, HI Count public Families with childr ity Income, cash *Supplemental Secur Stamps/SNAP assistance, or Food

2018 ALICE by Community, United Way Report, NOTE: Municipal level data is for County Subdivisions and relies on 5-year averages.

» Quarterly dashboard tracking the capacity of the child care industry in Hawai‘i duals Share of all indiviance receiving assist

HI County Statewide

47% 45%

te 2019 ACS, 1-Yr Estima

trategy.org www.HawaiiActionS MARCH 2022

www.hawaiiactionstrategy.org/ child-care-provider-data

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Examples of responses to Hawai`i’s EC needs

Strengthening policies ECAS Policy Efforts

progress towards a Furthering Hawai’i’s ‘ohana of care for our keiki and comprehensive system

Policy Framework The Early Childhood Action frameStrategy (ECAS) policy work outlines those strategic prioriareas that have been by tized for advancement the ECAS network.

The framework has been network aligned to team and to goals, and is intended and guide legislative agendas for policy recommendations furthering Hawai’i’s progress towards a comprehensive keiki system of care for our and ‘ohana.

Safe, Secure, and Nurturing Families

Healthy and Welcomed Births Increased access to high-quality and evidence-based sexual and reproductive health services -----------------

• A comprehensive whole-child/ whole-family, multi-generational approach • Culturally-responsive and inclusive practices

GUIDIN G PRINCI PALS

s

ECAS Policy Prioritie

• Efforts to address inequities and reduce disparities for ns vulnerable populatio and underserved communities

Effective January, 2022

Expanded and improved access to prenatal, interpartum, and postpartum health services with a focus on meeting the needs of under-served communities and addressing inequities -----------------

Increased support services that address al, the mental, emotion and physical health of infants, parents, and caregivers

Increased access to family-strengthening programs that focus on parenting, child development, attachment and early literacy -----------------

s Expansion of program and policies focused on child abuse and neglect and intimate partner violence prevention/ intervention

On-track Health and Development

Support for children’s healthy socialemotional development through early childhood behavioral health services and systems development -----------------

Improved systems for screening and referral and increased access to early intervention at services for children risk for developmental delays

-----------------

Improved supports for addressing economic, food, and housing insecurity in families with young children

-----------------

Increased promotion of and support services for early childhood health, wellness, nutrition, and obesityprevention

Accessible and Quality Early Care and Learning

Expanded and stable supply of quality early care and learning programs that includes and values a diversity of settings -----------------

Increased child care financial assistance and expansion of publicly-funded early care and learning programs -----------------

Increased compensation and professional s development support for the early care and learning workforce

1

www.Haw aiiAction

Strategy .org

01/2022

www.hawaiiactionstrategy.org/ ecas-efforts-policy-priorities

www.committokeiki.org

» Developed ECAS policy framework to identify legislative priorities for 2022 » Collaborated with content experts to create data informed issue briefs » Providing advocacy and support on behalf of significant pieces of legislation

Commit to Keiki » Prioritizing the wellbeing of young children in Hawai‘i’s electoral politics » Conducted statewide and county-specific polls » Hosted Zoom-side conversations with mayoral candidates about their priorities for young children » Expanded initiaitive to focus on both the mayoral and gubernatorial campaigns » Worked with the offices of Honolulu and Hawai‘i County mayors to build strategic agendas, develop new staff positions, and prioritize efforts to support the wellbeing of young children and their families with ARPA funds

HawaiiActionStrategy.org / March 2022

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Find out more on www.HawaiiActionStrategy.org

Find out more about our 2022 issue briefs

Child care is vital to a community’s well-being but Hawai`i’s fragile system has been devastated by the pandemic

www.HawaiiActionStrategy.org

Update 2021

1. Sustain and Strengthen Child Care and Early Learning

Healthy & Welcomed Births

3. Support Safe Prenatal, Internatal, and Postnatal Care and Delivery

1

Find out more about last year’s priorities and accomplishments * Expanded policy advocacy efforts in support of our child care infrastructure and system investments.

ECAS ARPA funding proposals included suggestions for ways to support the maintenance and expansion of the child care industry, focused on expanding the workforce, strengthening provider quality measures, and increasing the share of families able to access subsidies * Launched a quarterly ECAS Child Care Provider Data Dashboard reviewing provider capacity across the state each quarter * With Windward Community College and early care and learning partners, launched a family childcare educational pathway to grow and support the family child care sector * Launched Ka ‘Upena, a “Shared Services” pilot project in conjunction with PATCH, allowing family child care providers to pool their shared infrastructure needs and spend more time focused on the provision of child care

2. Prevent Family Violence and Protect Early Childhood Mental Health

* ECAS team 2 and partners launched the

* Expanded the Midwifery Integration Home

Visitation Program (MI-Home), bringing perinatal care to the most vulnerable families

ECAS Teams Safe & Nurturing Families 2

On-track Health & Development

January 2022 Equitable Access To Programs & Services 4

Successful Early Childhood Transitions

High Quality Early Learning Programs

The Early Childhood Action Strategy (ECAS) policy framework outlines those strategic areas that have been prioritized for advancement by the ECAS network.

* Funded and distributed telemedicine and

prenatal care equipment to families that would otherwise lack access * Expanded the NEST breastfeeding text support system providing access to peer parent educators and clinical specialists through a secure text messaging platform

Infant Hawai‘i Maternal and(HMIHC) Health Collaborative

HMIHC is working to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, while advancing health equity and reproductive justice, by enhancing systems and support for Hawai‘i’s families and communities.

4. Reach the Hardest to Reach Families Led by the ECAS CHAT (the Child Homelessness Action Team) * Partnered with Chef Hui to deliver meals to shelters that serve houseless youth * Convened listening sessions to identify ways to increase the number of homeless young children who attend quality childcare and preschool statewide * Working with the HI-DOE homeless liaisons and UH Center on the Family, created an early childhood family needs assessment to support homeless families with preschool-age children

Efforts include: * Improve systems of care and support for perinatal women with substance use disorder * Increase access to contraception and promote reproductive life planning * Promote and support breastfeeding * Support the implementation of recommendations to prevent preterm birth and maternal/infant mortality

NurtureDaily website providing vital resources to prevent family violence * Piloted the Aloha at Home family toolkit initiative, designed to encourage positive family interaction and share information on available resources

www.HawaiiActionStrategy.org

ECAS Annual Update 2021

Team 2 is working to support safe and nurturing families and improve the community-wide response to family violence.

Efforts include: * Create an Aloha at Home / Nurture Daily framework that is: strength-based, skills-focused, based on validated national research, and is ready to be used by the network of practitioners * Expand Aloha at Home direct-to-families toolkits to support safe and nurturing families * Strengthen the system of support for families through the Aloha at Home/ Nurture Daily platform * Create a sustainable infrastructure for the effort

3 3 is working to Team ensure all children, especially those at-risk, are provided appropriate referrals and access to services to support their health and development.

Team 4 is working to increase access to early childhood programs and services throughout the state and to resolve program and service gaps community by community.

6 5

Team 6 is working with families and communities to strengthen and streamline transitions through early childhood into school.

Find out more about all the long-term strategies by team

Efforts include: * Increase the number of children enrolled in a medical home * Support child development screening and referral efforts * Promote family engagement in child development * Support the implementation of the Infant/Early Childhood Behavioral Health Plan * Support the promotion and implementation of the ECE Wellness Guidelines in early care and education settings

Efforts include:

* Support capacity-

*

*

*

building in the early learning field, with a specific focus on access for infants and toddlers Increase access for children in unstable housing to early care and education programs and services Increase access to services for family engagement and parent leadership with a special focus on fatherhood/ male-involvement initiatives Create a comprehensive, virtual and mobile, early childhood resource and referral service

Team 5 is working to improve the quality of early childhood programs across all settings.

Efforts include: * Support the development and implementation of an integrated and Comprehensive Early Childhood System of Personnel Development (CSPD) for personnel serving infants and young children with disabilities and their families

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ECAS Snapshot

The framework has been aligned to team and network goals, and is intended to guide legislative agendas and policy recommendations for furthering Hawai’i’s progress towards a comprehensive system of care for our keiki and ‘ohana.

*

ECAS also engages in SMALLIFY labs that allow our network to identify challenges and create innovative human-centered design solutions we can rapidly prototype and test to help our systems-level initiatives.

• A comprehensive whole-child/ whole-family, multi-generational approach

Healthy and Welcomed Births

Increased access to high-quality and evidence-based sexual and reproductive health services

• Efforts to address inequities and reduce disparities for vulnerable populations and underserved communities

01/2022

Expanded and improved access to prenatal, interpartum, and postpartum health services with a focus on meeting the needs of under-served communities and addressing inequities

Safe, Secure, and Nurturing Families

Increased access to family-strengthening programs that focus on parenting, child development, attachment and early literacy -----------------

Expansion of programs and policies focused on child abuse and neglect and intimate partner violence prevention/ intervention

On-track Health and Development

Support for children’s healthy socialemotional development through early childhood behavioral health services and systems development

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Improved supports for addressing economic, food, and housing insecurity in families with young children

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Increased child care financial assistance and expansion of publicly-funded early care and learning programs

Increased promotion of and support services for early childhood health, wellness, nutrition, and obesityprevention

• Hawai`i’s child care industry generated some $300 million in state-wide revenue each year

Expanded and stable supply of quality early care and learning programs that includes and values a diversity of settings

Improved systems for screening and referral and increased access to early intervention services for children at risk for developmental delays -----------------

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Increased support services that address the mental, emotional, and physical health of infants, parents, and caregivers

• Over half of Hawai`i’s children (0-5) were in nonparental child care 10+ hours/week

Accessible and Quality Early Care and Learning

Find out more about the ECAS legislative framework and 2022 policy priorities

• Culturally-responsive and inclusive practices

Effective January, 2022

Pre-pandemic4

ECAS Policy Priorities

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Efforts include:

* Strengthen early

childhood family literacy practices through Words Matter/LENA Target strong early language and literacy development efforts to communities of greatest need, leading to the development of a pipeline for early reading, kindergarten readiness and early academic achievement

Furthering Hawai’i’s progress towards a comprehensive system of care for our keiki and ‘ohana

Policy Framework

GUIDING PRINCIPALS

The Action Strategy network and partners devoted attention in 2021 to the broad set of challenges to early childhood development, health, safety and learning brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. In parallel, ECAS network partners took advantage of opportunities to shore up the foundations of and improve access to - the systems that support young children.

01/2022

An extensive body of research shows that a child’s experiences in the first years of life have a measurable impact on brain development and later success in school and life. For more and more children, these early life experiences take place in child care. High-quality child care provides children with the learning environment that is critical for school readiness and leads to improved educational, economic, health and well-being outcomes for children, lasting into adulthood.1

Priorities

64% 20,157 Children (0-5) living in families with all parents working HI 2019

• Loss of staff to other sectors

HI 2019

HI 2021

More than 3,600 child care spaces for children been lost during the pandemic in Hawai`i.

(0-5) have

Pandemic related challenges lead to

• Increased costs to implement new health and safety requirements

Estimated # of Child care children (0-5) seats availin need of able for child care2 children (0-5)3

Hawai`i’s supply of licensed/ registered* child care is insufficient to meet the needs of working families.

733 Licensed child care centers and family/ group child care homes (Serving children 0-5)

HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

23,803

20,157 SEAT LOSS

• Decreased revenue from limited enrollment and capacity

12/2019

PROGRAM LOSS

5

12/2021

Licensed/registered child care spaces (serving 0-5)6

7%

3,646 15%

HI 2019 to 2021

Percent of family income spent on child care

Where licensed child care is available, high tuition puts care out of reach for many families.

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Increased compensation and professional development supports for the early care and learning workforce

www.HawaiiActionStrategy.org

64,066

25% Federal benchmark for child care affordability7

1

01/2022

• Financial assistance is available through federal and statefunded subsidy programs

• Subsidy assistance is not available to a large number of families who do not meet the eligibility requirements but can’t afford child care on their own

7%

Household Income 200% of FPL $40,0808

SINGLE PARENT

Avg cost $8229

1 INFANT IN FAMILY CHILD CARE

“True cost” of licensed child care is 42% more than the typical prices programs charge.12

27%

TWO PARENTS

Household Income State Median $ 108,49810

1 INFANT & 1 PRESCHOOLER IN CENTER

Avg cost $1,537 + $92111

Tuition rates do not represent the true cost of operating programs at high-quality standards, with fairly compensated teaching staff. Most child care programs operate with razor-thin margins which pose significant challenges to providing high-quality care and maintaining the business viability necessary to sustain capacity and services. www.HawaiiActionStrategy.org

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ECAS Policy Framework

Brief on Family Violence

ECAS 2022 Legislative Priorities

Brief on Pandemic Effects on Child Care Brief on Early Childhood Mental Health

HawaiiActionStrategy.org / March 2022

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