While there are many potential benefits of early care and education (ECE) including positive child outcomes, support for parental/caregiver employment, and driving economic growth, the nation’s early care and education system is still fragile. Long-standing challenges related to access, affordability, and quality are well known.

With solutions in action, we are excited to announce the publication of an in-depth case study, Collaboration as a Catalyst for Change: The Success of the Early Care & Education Association. The case study illustrates the Foundation’s philanthropic approach underlying the genesis and innovative success of the ECEA, a provider-led network serving ECE professionals in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont.

The network, known as Early Care & Education Association (ECEA), has grown from four active members in 2016 to more than 160 today under the tenure of Amy Brooks, inaugural Executive Director. This case study showcases the contributions of ECEA to the ECE field, not only as providing meaningful mentoring and technical support for center and family child leaders and educators, but also operating a comprehensive suite of ECE workforce development programs.

ECEA’s programs support the entry of new early educators into the field as well as provide technical assistance to a growing number of director networks, center-based, and family child care providers statewide.

The Couch Family Foundation seeded and continues to support the Early Care & Education Association as a thought partner and funder. We are particularly proud to highlight how philanthropy grounded in collaboration with grantees can substantively transform and strengthen ECE ecosystems.