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Early Childhood Action Plan

ECAP diagram

Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order in August 2018, directing DHHS to develop an Early Childhood Action Plan. The plan will present a bold vision for North Carolina’s children from birth through age 8, focusing on improving outcomes related to children’s health, safety and well-being, and developmental and academic readiness.

The plan will provide a framework to galvanize coordinated action across public and private stakeholders throughout North Carolina and centers around making measurable changes in early childhood outcomes. It includes 10 data-informed goals.

Draft of Early Childhood Action Plan

DHHS worked extensively with over 350 stakeholders from across the state to develop the draft Early Childhood Action Plan, released on Nov. 1, 2018, including the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC).

DHHS will engage in dialogue and listening sessions in November 2018 statewide to gather feedback on the draft. Before the plan for North Carolina is finalized, we need your input on the following:

  • Framework, Vision, and Guiding Principles
  • 2025 Goals: Targets, Explanations, and Metrics
  • Specific, measurable, actionable, relevant and timebound strategies that will move the needle on the 2025 goals, to be included in the next phase of the plan’s development.

Please email your feedback to ECAP@dhhs.nc.gov by Dec. 21, 2018.

After DHHS has reviewed public input on the draft, the Department will coordinate with the Early Childhood Advisory Council to revise the Early Childhood Action Plan, including detailed recommendations for statewide and local strategies. 

The plan is expected to be released in early 2019.

Public Listening Session

DHHS held a public listening session on Nov. 26 at Wake Technical Comuunity College in Raleigh on the draft North Carolina Early Childhood Action Plan to receive feedback and input from the general public, including families with young children, stakeholders with a commitment to young children ages 0 – 8 in the fields of health, child welfare, and education, and anyone else who would like to share their thoughts on the draft plan.

Public input and feedback is vital to understanding what is working and what can be done differently for young children in North Carolina. This is the first of several public listening sessions to get feedback on the draft NC Early Childhood Action Plan throughout the state.

NC Early Childhood Action Plan Webinars

DHHS is hosting six live, hour-long webinars on the NC Early Childhood Action Plan for those interested in learning more. Four were held in November, and one has been held in December so far. The last one is:

  • Dec. 13, 3 p.m.

You can join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. (If it’s the first time you’re using GoToMeeting, you can do a system check to make sure it works.) 

You can also dial in using your phone by calling 646-749-3112. Use the access code 386-755-605.

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