WCFC NETWORK STRUCTURE
Washington Communities for Children (WCFC) is a network of 10 Regional Early Childhood coalitions across Washington State that are supported by a team of specialists focused on policy and advocacy, equity, data, and community engagement. Community engagement efforts center around Child Care Voice, Health Provider Voice, and Family Voice & Resource Access. These networks, coalitions, organizations, and individuals aim to build relationships, learn together, identify challenges, and test ideas, all in the spirit of improving child and family wellbeing.
STATE NETWORKS
Data
The statewide Data Network is focused on assessing existing data to inform continuous early childhood resource system improvement and exploring opportunities for alignment across data systems. The team meets as needed. Please contact Linden Obel to learn more or join a meeting!
CHILD CARE VOICE
The statewide Child Care Voice Network is a collaboration of early learning providers representing all settings, programs, and models in our state's mixed-delivery system. They engage in self-directed conversations around early learning, the children and families of their communities, and the industry’s workforce. This network hosts an annual Child Care Voice Legislative Roundtable to engage policy makers directly with early learning participants, and form workgroups around specific topics as opportunities or issues arise. The team meets on the first Thursday of each month, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with simultaneous Spanish translation and the ability to expand language support options as needed. Please contact Brittany Hartikainen to learn more or get involved!
Equity
The statewide Equity Network monthly structure is currently on pause as we intentionally focus on our internal equity work. The Equity Network has taken on various iterations and has been an important space for relationship building, shared and individual learning, and engaging with challenging topics. We hope that focusing on the internal equity work of WCFC will benefit future evolution of our external facing Equity Network. If you’d like to learn more or be involved contact Cat Lazaroff.
Family voice & Resource Access
The statewide Family Voice & Resource Access Network is focused on elevating the voices of children, their families, and early childhood system partners to inform a more cohesive statewide system of resources. This includes exploring relationship-and strength-based engagement, increasing access to inclusive and culturally relevant services, and strengthening early childhood system coordination. Please contact Henedina Tavares to learn more or join a meeting!
health provider voice
The statewide Health Provider Voice Network co-designs strategies to connect child and family health providers with one another and the community, to strengthen referral pathways, and remove barriers for families accessing services. The network works to advance and support systems change and policy change as it relates to supporting all families in healthcare settings. The team meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month from 3:00–4:00 p.m. Please contact Taylor Caragan to learn more or get involved!
Policy & Advocacy
The statewide Policy & Advocacy Network is focused on identifying and advocating for resources and policies that improve the wellbeing of children, families and communities. Please contact Colleen Condon to learn more or get involved!
WCFC PARENT LEADERSHIP COLLABORATIVE
Formed in May 2022, the WCFC Parent Leadership Collaborative (PLC) aims to catalyze parent leadership in the WCFC Network. The group has functioned as a parent-led space for those participating in the WCFC Network to come together to do the following:
Connect with fellow parents and families; share resources, learnings, and challenges
Provide feedback on shared concerns to agencies at state and local levels
Inform WCFC Network priorities and strategies through Learning Network engagement
Mobilize local action in alignment with the WCFC Network priorities and strategies
The PLC currently meets virtually and is open to any parent / parent champion across the state. Please reach out for more information!