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last updated
April 2005

 

  

Action Plans

Outreach

Strategy

We will engage families in accessing community resources for young children.

 

Action Plan #1
 

Establish consumer friendly avenues for accessing early childhood resources.

 

Steps:

  1. Create a West Hartford Early Childhood website with links from WHPS and WH Town websites and with links to social services, organization, early care and education programs (including childcare centers, Family Resource Centers and family care). Also information on financial help, nutrition services, health services, and line to INFOline.

  2. Develop multi-lingual printed brochures from resources on website (i.e. "Directory of resources for WH Children", "Selected Quality Early Childhood Education Programs: brochures).

  3. Host an annual Early Childhood Family Fair with information booths from WHEC programs, social service organizations, library and health service, etc.

  4. Use a portable display unit, stocked with current research brochures, directories, caregiver kits (see Action Plan #4, step 2), to visit various neighborhoods in West Hartford.

  5. Provide an EC booth at town wide (i.e. Celebrate WH) and neighborhood events to disseminate brochures, kits, directories, etc.

  6. Research the feasibility of collaborating with the Literacy caravan or other existing mobile units.

 

Action Plan #2
 

Identify barriers that inhibit parents from enrolling children in preschool programs.

 

Steps:

  1. Create Early Care and Education survey to identify barriers.

  2. Distribute surveys at town post offices, local markets, Family Resource Centers, places of worship, residency offices, etc.

  3. Host focus groups in Charter Oak, Smith, Wolcott, Webster Hill, and other selected areas.

  4. Collaborate efforts with Smith School's site-based planning goal.

 

Action Plan #3
 

Increase participation in preschool experiences within high need neighborhoods

 

Steps:

  1. Host neighborhood-friendly social events (i.e. ice cream social, pizza party, etc.) to disseminate information on EC programs and resources.

  2. Utilize the portable display unit and visit the specified neighborhoods to bring program information directly to the parents.

  3. Collaborate efforts with WHPS and West Hartford Early Childhood council.

 

Action Plan #4
 

Engage parents who use informal childcare providers.

 

Steps:

  1. Identify families who use informal childcare through a Early Care survey.

  2. Inform parents and informal providers of the availability of training and support programs (e.g. family resource Center, libraries, etc.).

  3. Create and distribute "Caregivers' Kits" for use by informal care providers. Kits to include helpful information (i.e. important numbers magnet, "good practices" video, infant/child CPR Magnets).

 

Action Plan #5
 

Improve outreach coordination.

 

Steps:

  1. Identify staff needs regarding outreach coordinator to disseminate information, kits, brochures, and directories, and to oversee all outreach events.

  2. Engage in partnership with neighborhood groups and organizations (i.e. HANOC).