In recent years, CSAC has increased our engagement on early childhood advocacy issues informed by county feedback to update our policy platform and identify key priorities. As those efforts continue, CSAC leadership and staff are looking to gain more in-depth input about the role counties play in strengthening early childhood development in their communities. As CSAC examines its advocacy role around issues related to early childhood, including access to and affordability of child care, we have designed this survey to gather information on the landscape, involvement of counties, and advocacy priorities in this issue area.
 
Please complete this survey by 5:00 pm on Friday, December 22. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Danielle Bradley at dbradley@counties.org.

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* 1. Please provide the name and email of the person completing this survey. 

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* 2. Does your county have a lead staff member(s) assigned to early childhood issues? This includes issue areas related to supporting and improving early childhood development, such as child care, family workforce initiatives, early intervention, and other programs focused on enhancing the long term outcomes of young children in your county. If so, which department(s)? Please provide their names, titles, and emails:

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* 3. Has your County Board of Supervisors identified any issues related to early childhood as a county priority? If so, please share. This may include: child care, early intervention, home visiting, workforce initiatives, etc. Also, please share any significant actions the county has conducted to support this priority.

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* 4. Has your county recently funded and/or conducted any countywide needs assessments related to early childhood? If so, please provide links to these reports. For example, the San Diego County Child Care Blueprint was released earlier this year following Board action last year.

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* 5. What organizations does your county most frequently partner with on efforts related to early childhood initiatives. These may include your county’s First 5 Commission, local child care and development planning councils (LPCs), Resource and Referral programs, County Office of Education, and community based organizations. When applicable, please describe any formal oversight or governance role that the county has with any of these entities.

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* 6. Has your county adopted early childhood and child care state and/or federal advocacy priorities? If so, please share those priorities.

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* 7. What are the highest priority needs, funding, and policy changes related to strengthening early childhood and child care efforts in your county?

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* 8. How has your county been impacted by recent major policy developments and investments at the state level (Master Plan for Early Learning and Care, transfer of child care programs from Department of Education to Department of Social Services, new investments in child care infrastructure and provider rates, etc.)? Please share how any of these developments were impactful to your community and any continuing gaps that exist as these efforts are implemented.

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* 9. Did your county invest any federal and/or state pandemic one-time funding, such as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), into early childhood programs or initiatives? If so, please briefly share what type of investments. Does your county anticipate any future cuts to these programs once funding from the pandemic-related investments end?

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* 10. Please share any additional information or resources related to early childhood within your county that may be helpful to CSAC’s efforts on this issue.

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