Empowering Collaborations Through Advocacy and Action

Remember the importance of policy and advocacy when developing your collaboration’s action plan.

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There’s Strength in Numbers

Developing strong systems that support families with young children is no small feat. But the early childhood sector offers a unique opportunity to engage diverse advocates who have multifaceted expertise in childcare, early learning, family leadership, and health. Your advocacy for policies and initiatives that strengthen essential programs and services for children and families is vital in sustaining a successful early childhood system.

It’s important to advocate for the resources young children and families need, and to engage policymakers to protect and increase public investments in early childhood programs. There are many ways your local collaboration can champion young children and families.

3 Ways to Be an Advocate

Stay informed

Knowledge is power! Keep up with advocacy alerts and policy updates.

Stay connected

Invite local elected officials to community events your collaboration hosts or meet to discuss the importance of early childhood services.

Take action

Participate in advocacy events at local and state levels. Your presence and voice matter.

Action Learning and Testing Ideas

Collaborations must be able to adapt to community change as they focus on achieving the systems change that’s necessary to thrive.

That’s where action learning comes in. It’s an outcomes-oriented improvement process of using data, identifying needs, matching solutions, taking action, and reflecting on it all. This cycle of learning and improvement is continuous, allowing for adjustments based on new insights.

Strategic Communication

Effective communication with stakeholders is crucial. It helps everyone appreciate different perspectives, reduces misunderstandings, and builds a united front for change.

It’s not just what you say, but how you say it and who you say it to.

Know your audience

Understanding how to communicate your message to different groups is vital. Various stakeholders, like faith leaders, business owners, parents, and healthcare professionals, need tailored communication. Some might be on board already, while others need more information.

Facilitate ongoing communication

Effective collaboration is more than just meetings and emails. It’s about creating a feedback loop that encourages adaptability and action. Continuous communication helps you gather insights on what’s working and what needs improvement.

Develop your message

When crafting your message, it’s crucial to align it with your audience’s interests. Think about:

  •   The language you use
  •   The knowledge level of your audience
  •   What motivates them
  •   Potential resistance you might face
  •   The action you’re asking them to take
  •   Their attention span
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Ready to Build a Collaboration?

Once you feel confident about your collaboration’s plan, have engaged diverse stakeholders, and have taken action, it’s only a matter of time before everything comes together.

Get Collaboration Support

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