Think Tank Events
May 2020 - February 2021 Virtual
Are you concerned about decisions being made on behalf of young children and families? Do you want to add your voice to conversations about what must happen to strengthen early childhood services and supports? Then please consider joining these roundtable discussions about current realities in early childhood and how policies can be more responsive to those realities.
Audience: Educare Learning Network members and external guests as applicable depending on the Think Tank’s theme/focus
The Educare Policy Workgroup is sponsoring a series of co-designed “just in time” peer learning events open to Educare Learning Network members and invited guests. Utilizing a think tank format, the events will serve to foster greater understanding around a specific and timely issue that has implications from both policy and implementation perspectives during recovery and rebuilding of the early childhood system amid COVID-19.
During each event, an Educare Policy Workgroup member or state/national advocacy partner will frame the pre-determined issue to initiate conversation. National Policy Team (NPT) staff will then facilitate, ensuing dialogue and processing exercises for participants, as well as produce a digestible post-meeting artifact for amplification of key take-aways. NPT staff will also provide coordination and facilitation support in partnership with Educare Policy Workgroup co-chairs and relevant Educare Learning Network/Start Early (formerly known as the Ounce) staff.
Upcoming Event:
Think Tank #4 – Influencing the Next Chapter for Children
February 9, 2021
12-1:30 p.m. CST
In preparation for development of an Educare Policy Agenda and amid the promise and actions of the new administration, the focus on this Think Tank is to provide opportunity for all Network members to consider collective policy priorities, share reactions and implications of recent executive orders and developing legislation, and weigh in on current and potential challenges and opportunities facing ELN children and families. Your perspective is so important to development of an agenda we can move forward together in the months and years to come. Please add your voice and ideas to this critical dialogue about issues and policies impacting young children and families across the Educare Learning Network. Register here to participate.
Sponsored by: The Educare Policy Workgroup
For more information on previous and upcoming Think Tank Events, please visit the Description page.
Description
Overview
The Educare Policy Workgroup is sponsoring a series of co-designed “just in time” peer learning events open to Educare Learning Network members and invited guests. Utilizing a think tank format, the events will serve to foster greater understanding around a specific and timely issue that has implications from both policy and implementation perspectives during recovery and rebuilding of the early childhood system amid COVID-19.
Format
- Virtual roundtable
- Loosely facilitated using pre-determined dialogue prompts
- Open and targeted invitation process for Educare Learning Network participants
- Targeted invitation process for external contributors (advocates, partner organizations, etc.)
Intentions
1. Increase shared understanding across Educare school, advocacy and policy perspectives focused on reopening of early care and education post-quarantine
2. Create space and conditions for a two-way exchange of insights, best practices and challenges across policy and implementation
3. Strengthen relationships between Educare staff, advocates and Start Early (formerly known as the Ounce) partner organizations
Schedule
Past Think Tank Events
- Think Tank #1, May 28, 2020
Reopening After Quarantine – Policy Considerations + Connections
Think Tank #1 focused on the policy considerations and implications schools are encountering as they begin planning and executing reopening and recovery efforts.
- Think Tank #2, August 14, 2020
Head Start Programming, Policy, and Advocacy Needs in the COVID-19 Era
Think Tank #2 focused on what contributions Head Start programming and flexibility extensions are making to child and family well-being, challenges or limitations that currently exist with Head Start service delivery and programming, and recommendations for changes or improvements to Head Start policies and/or programming broadly and specifically as it relates to reopening and recovery. - Think Tank #3, October 26, 2020
Caring for the Caregivers: Supporting the Mental Health and Well-Being of the Early Childhood Workforce During Dual Pandemics
Think Tank # 3 focused on strategies to support the mental health and well-being of the early childhood workforce throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The Think Tank conversation covered many topics related to supporting the mental health and well-being of the early childhood workforce throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond including a discussion around the tension between the workforce being “essential” but individual educators feeling like their health and safety is placed as risk as they are asked to return to the front lines. Read a full summary from this webinar here.
Upcoming Think Tank Events
- Think Tank #4, February 9, 2021 from 12-1:30 p.m. CST (register here)
Influencing the Next Chapter for Children
In preparation for development of an Educare Policy Agenda and amid the promise and actions of the new administration, the focus on this Think Tank is to provide opportunity for all Network members to consider collective policy priorities, share reactions and implications of recent executive orders and developing legislation, and weigh in on current and potential challenges and opportunities facing ELN children and families. Your perspective is so important to development of an agenda we can move forward together in the months and years to come. Please add your voice and ideas to this critical dialogue about issues and policies impacting young children and families across the Educare Learning Network. Register here to participate.
Additional Information
Please contact us with questions or ideas for future Think Tank topics at support@educarenetwork.org.
