Community Mobilization
Strategies to Support Young Children and Their Families
Description:... Noting the increasing need for public officials, practitioners, business leaders, concerned citizens, and parents to work together to improve the quality of life for young children and families, this book for community organizations provides information needed to begin or enhance local or statewide community mobilization efforts. Included are descriptions of initiatives based on information gathered through interviews with staff conducted over a 3-year period. The book begins with a definition of community mobilization, its principles, and the origins and stages of community mobilization efforts. The remaining sections detail the three stages of community mobilization, using a question-answer format, and including information from specific initiatives to illustrate particular points. Section 1, "Creating a Vision: Promising Practices," contains chapters on getting started, assessing needs, mobilizing the voice of parents, and involving businesses. Section 2, "Implementing the Vision: Creating Quality Services for Young Children and Their Families," includes chapters on reforming communities to serve families of young children through coordinating services, systemic planning and reform, and institutionalizing integrated services. Also included in this section are chapters on improving and assuring the quality of services through promoting professional development of the early education and care practitioner, involving parents, improving state regulations, promoting accreditation of early childhood practitioners, and improving the compensation of the child care workforce. Section 3, "Sustaining the Vision: Assuring Lasting Change," addresses maintaining momentum, developing financing mechanisms, engaging the public, and assessing results. Each chapter contains references. Two appendices detail state initiatives and describe national organizations. (Author/KB)
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