The Early Childhood Systems Working Group (ECSWG)

An audience of state, national and federal leaders, and representatives from advocacy and philanthropy participated in a May 20, 2011 webinar to discuss the recent work of the Early Childhood Systems Working Group (ECSWG).  Cindy Oser (ZERO TO THREE), Ann Reale (ICFI), Rachel Schumacher (R.Schumacher Consulting), and Kathy Glazer (BUILD) described the group's recent updates and revisions to the original systems graphics (know as "the ovals") developed by the ECSWG in 2006 to help states implement an integrated system of policies, services and programs across early learning, early intervention, health and family support so that children and families thrive.  

Click here to view/hear the webinar.

Many state leaders are engaged in efforts to increase quality, alignment, and efficiency among the system of systems serving young children and their families.  The Early Childhood Systems Working Group (ECSWG) seeks to help states implement a system that can provide an integrated continuum of policies, services and programs across early learning, early intervention, health and family support so that children and families thrive.  Since 2006, this group of expert organizations and individuals has met voluntarily on an as-needed basis to engage in a peer learning community and develop resources for the early childhood field.

The most well-known contribution of the ECSWG was a simple graphic (often referred to as “the ovals”) depicting the intersection of critical early childhood systems as well as one describing necessary core elements of an early childhood system.  The 2006 system graphics are below.

Since their creation, the ECSWG graphics have been widely used and adapted by national and state stakeholders to understand, communicate, and support policy improvements for states' systems. Variations on the “ovals” and “elements” concepts may be found in state planning and policy documents around the country.  They have proved to be a powerful tool to convey a vision of an early childhood system.

See Charlie Bruner’s brief entitled A Framework for State Leadership and Action in Building the Components of an Early Childhood System. This resource brief offers an overview of each of the components/ovals according to their evidence base, status of development, exemplary state actions in building the component/oval, and finally, a set of exemplary state actions in linking each component with other components/ovals.

Now, the ECSWG has completed a process of revising these graphics and adding a set of principles.  In doing so, the ECSWG hopes to continue to fuel conversations about state early childhood system-building. A brief and powerpoint have been prepared to provide a rationale for this revision, and explain key changes to the early childhood field.  The 2011 revised system graphics are shown in the attached (here) document and below.