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Early Learning Committee

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Early Learning in Snohomish County
One of the very active committee’s of the Children’s Commission is the Early Learning Committee (ELC). During the past year, the Early Learning Committee has developed a strategic plan that is aligned with the state Kids Matter framework and the regional early learning strategic plan being implemented by NWESD #189.

Our vision is that all children have high quality early care and learning experiences that support optimal growth and development leading to success in school and life; all children are ready for school and all schools are ready for children.

It is the goal of the ELC to develop relationships with local champions and inspire community stakeholders and leaders to partner with the Snohomish County Children’s Commission to ensure children in our community are healthy and ready for success in school and life. We invite you to stand with us in our efforts to grow “ready children” in Snohomish County.

The Early Learning Committee meets quarterly, and has pledged to:
Develop strategies and enhance the existing early learning infrastructure in our County
Develop county-wide and region-wide system goals that align with the WA state’s Kids Matter framework
Strengthen connections between the early learning community and school districts
Begin to determine the activities we feel are necessary to assure that all children enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life
Identify future steps the group would like to take to support children, birth to eight, and their families in Snohomish County

What we are doing now
The ELC is currently working on developing a business plan for the group. A Foundation for Early Learning Grant has allowed us to hire Dovetailing Consulting to do this work. For the business plan/roadmap, we are looking at our three main strategies (school linkages to early learning; parent connections/support; and child social emotional wellness) and flushing out the various activities that our county would need to do to achieve our goals. In addition we are looking at our governance structure and how the group will conduct its work.

Meetings
Anyone who is interested can attend one of our five subcommittees that meet monthly:
Steering
Professional Development
Family, Friends and Neighbors
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender
Social Emotional Wellness

For all intents and purposes, these subcommittees are where the 'real work' of the ELC is being done.

Contact
If you'd like to visit us for any of our committee or subcommittee meetings, please don't hesitate to email the ELC Co-Chairs, Elaine Larson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Committee Members
American Federation of Teachers/Child Care Workforce Alliance • Child Care Providers • Community Service Agencies • Department of Early Learning • Edmonds Community College • Everett Community College • Family Support Centers of Snohomish County • Family, Friend and Neighbor Caregivers • Housing Hope • Little Red School House • Lutheran Community Services Northwest • North Sound 2-1-1 • Snohomish County Human Services Department • Providence Children’s Center • Public, Private, and Faith Based Preschools • School Districts • Sherwood Community Services • Snohomish County Association for the Education of Young Children • Snohomish County Child Care Resource & Referral, Volunteers of America Western Washington • Snohomish County Division of Developmental Disabilities • Snohomish County Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program • Snohomish County Early Head Start and Head Start Programs • Snohomish County Family Interagency Coordinating Council • Snohomish County Health District • Snohomish County Infant Toddler • Early Intervention Program, Department of Developmental Disabilities, Department of Social and Health Services • Sno-Isle Libraries • United Way of Snohomish County Success By 6® • Wonderland Developmental Center • YMCA of Snohomish County