Task Force on Early Childhood

In 2000, the Task Force was reauthorized, and renamed itself the Task Force on Early Care and Education. The Task Force accomplished the following from 1998-2002:

· Expanded Home Visiting

· Improved Access to Quality, Affordable Childcare

· Developed & Implemented Child Care Core Curriculum

· Enhanced Learning Results’ Parent Education Concepts K-12

· Support for Family Resource Centers & Literacy

In 2001, members of the Task Force invited Dr. Jack Shonkoff, the lead researcher with the National Academy of Sciences’ committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development to speak in Maine on the public policy implications of the latest early childhood brain research. His presentation led to a statewide Forum in October, 2002, on early childhood. Child advocates, service providers and policy- makers that will carry the work of the Task Force into the next three to five years developed strategies at this forum.

In light of the mandate developed at this forum, the Early Care and Education Task Force recommended that it be reauthorized and that its name be changed to the Task Force on Early Childhood, as its mission is now broader than either education, home visiting, or child care alone. The strategies that need implementation over the next two years are to:

1) Strengthen and Expand Commitments to Assist Parents of young children;

2) Secure Needed Resources for young children;

3) Balance Cognitive Development with the Emotional and Physical Needs of young children; and

4) Guarantee Effective Service Systems for young children

Based on research and recommendations by National Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development, and their publication “From Neurons to Neighborhoods,” the Task Force proposes, as its agenda, the examination of the following priorities over the next two-five years:

Study and propose ways to secure needed resources for young children.
Study and propose ways to making greater commitments to assist parents of young children.
Study and propose ways for how providers and families can balance the cognitive development with the emotional and physical needs of young children.
Study and propose ways for improved collaboration between families, programs and systems.

Finally, the Task Force has for its immediate next steps the following goals:

1) Invite the First Lady to chair the Task Force to promote the implementation of the four Recommendations. February 2003

2) Applying for Federal Title V funds to staff Task Force and move recommendations toward implementation - March 2003

3) Move Recommendations to implementation in partnership with the Children’s Cabinet, stakeholders, and the Legislature 2003-2006

4) Conduct follow-up Forum to evaluate Recommendations 2003-2004