Build New Jersey Partners for Early Learning

New Jersey is in a unique and opportune position to advance an agenda for a coordinated, comprehensive, high quality system of early learning for all children from birth to age five. Significant efforts are already underway throughout the state to improve aspects of the early learning system. Through participation in a national initiative, called Build, New Jersey has the opportunity to strengthen these parallel efforts and bring them together in a more organized, effective, and comprehensive way.

The Build Initiative is a multi-state partnership created by the Early Childhood Funders’ Collaborative, a consortium of national and local foundations that have substantial grantmaking programs in early childhood care and education. Build’s mission is to help each state develop a coordinated system of programs, policies and services that is responsive to the needs of families, careful in the use of private and public resources, and effective in preparing our youngest children for a successful future. Build will do this by being a catalyst for change, a source of ideas and funds, and a pathway to a deeper national understanding of the issue. New Jersey is among four states selected to participate in Phase I of the Build initiative. Other Build states are Illinois, Minnesota and Ohio.

New Jersey’s initial grant from the Build Initiative supports a one-year work plan focused on forging a strong new partnership, called Build New Jersey Partners for Early Learning, to advance a new vision for early learning. Year one will develop the basis for an organized, innovative advocacy effort, focused upon achieving consensus among a new group of stakeholders on a new vision and policy agenda. Year two will focus on implementing a strategic communications plan to advance the specific policy recommendations and actions needed, providing the foundation for a comprehensive system for early care and learning.

The lead Build grantee in New Jersey is the Association for Children of New Jersey. A widely-representative Core Team has been created that functions as a planning entity and steering committee for the Build Initiative. Additional stakeholders and key state leaders, representative of business, education, the medical community and the legislature, will be engaged to develop a larger group of supporters called Build New Jersey Partners for Early Learning.

The four goals of New Jersey’s Build work plan are:

• Create Build New Jersey Partners for Early Learning, forging a new and effective partnership to advance a new vision of a comprehensive system of early learning. 
• Create a new vision for a comprehensive system of early care and learning, accessible to all children from infancy to age five.
• Articulate a policy agenda and action plan, identifying long-term goals and immediate steps toward implementing the new vision for a comprehensive system of early care and learning.
•  Build public will for the new vision of early care and learning by conducting a well-planned strategic communications campaign.

In addition to receiving financial support for systems building work in New Jersey, Build New Jersey Partners for Early Learning is participating in the national learning community created by the Build initiative. Through the Build Learning Community, grantees, national experts and other states interested in systems-building can exchange information and ideas and receive technical assistance through a number of communications tools including national convenings, conference calls, internet communications, multi-state discussions and written materials.