Right From The Start
MIND THE OPPORTUNITY GAP: Tasha’s Story
1
Right From The Start
Vision and Purpose

Why, despite our best efforts, do we still have children in Connecticut
entering school behind their peers, not fully ready to learn and
succeed?

Right from the Start (RFTS) is a Connecticut initiative that evolved
from the outcry of parents, early care providers, advocates and a
range of community stakeholders for a coordinated comprehensive
early care and education delivery system.

We want a system where all Connecticut children receive the early
education and development support they need.
Right
From The Start conversations are bringing together
people in communities throughout Connecticut to identify the
best approaches to address four root causes that are not
receiving enough attention.
We
want a system :
• that builds a foundation for learning and development during a
child’s first 1000 days – Early is Good, Earlier is Better
• with accessible health, mental health, and social-emotional
development support – Pay Attention to the Whole Child
• provides all children regardless of race or economic background
with the same opportunities – Mind the Opportunity Gap
• where local communities are empowered to make effective
decisions for their citizens – Support Local Community Action
Today’s Topic:
Mind The Opportunity Gap
Video
Preview: Important ideas and themes:
 “Gaps” in the early childhood system
 Achievement gap
 Opportunity gap
 “Age in”
 Inequities in the system
 Care 4 Kids
 Connecticut Works
Mind the Opportunity Gap:
Tasha’s Story
SHOW
VIDEO
(Insert still shot/link to video)
Mind the Opportunity Gap:
Tasha’s Story
What
would you tell your friends who
asked you about this video?
Mind the Opportunity Gap:
Tasha’s Story
What important ideas did you hear in this
video?
 about what children need?





about parents and families?
about child care providers?
about health care provides?
about other services?
Why is this important to you?
Reaching Right From the Start Goals
Opportunities and Solutions
How
well are services in our community
doing in meeting the needs of children
and families in all economic situations?
Which
of the following approaches would
make the system work better for those who
need the most help?
Reaching Right From the Start Goals
Opportunities and Solutions
Approach
A
Reduce
barriers and increase access to
early childhood education, healthcare
and special services that support parents
and families.
“Programs
like Early Head Start and Nurturing
Families reach the most vulnerable children at an
important stage of development.”
Reaching Right From the Start Goals
Opportunities and Solutions
Approach
B:
Create
a system that supports both
generations by making sure that parents
have education, training and job
opportunities, as well as early care and
education for their children.

“Along
with meeting basic needs, parents need systems to
work together so they can find and keep jobs while their
children are well cared for.”
Reaching Right From the Start Goals
Opportunities and Solutions
Approach
C:
Make
public system more accountable
for the impact policies have on racial and
economic disparities. Policy makers are
responsible for how well the system
works and for deciding which families
and children receive services.

“The
only way to serve the most vulnerable families
is to have a system of public support.”
CONSIDERING EACH
APPROACH


WHICH IS THE BEST OPTION FOR
BUILDING A SYSTEM THAT CLOSES
THE OPPORTUNITY GAP?
Building a system that closes the
opportunity gap
A: Reduce barriers and increase
access to early childhood education, healthcare
and special services that support parents and
families.
Approach
What
are the advantages of this approach?
… the disadvantages of this approach?
Building a system that closes the
opportunity gap
B: Create a system that supports both
generations by making sure that parents have
education, training and job opportunities, as well
as early care and education for their children.
Approach
What
are the advantages of this approach?
… the disadvantages of this approach?
Building a system that closes the
opportunity gap
C: Make public system more
accountable for the impact policies have on racial
and economic disparities. Policy makers are
responsible for how well the system works and for
deciding which families and children receive
services.
Approach
What
are the advantages of this approach?
… the disadvantages of this approach?
What works best?
If
you could choose only one of these
approaches which would you choose?
Why?
Our best ideas
What
What
was the most important idea
you heard today?
do you like about that idea?
Why is that important?
Where do we go from here?
What
did you learn or hear about today that
you would like to know more about?
Is
there anything that you, individually, might
do or do differently, as a result of today’s
conversation?
What
would you like to see happen to follow
up on today’s conversation?
Options for Taking Action
(ADD THE LOCAL PLAN OF ACTION AND
OPTIONS FOR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION)

Options forTaking Action
We
invite you to join our growing
network. Go to our website:
[email protected]
◦ Share your thoughts, feelings, and insights in the Your
Voice section.
◦ Connect with others in53 Discovery
communities working collaboratively to improve early
childhood.
◦ Learn more in our Resource section.