Mission
Vermont’s Early Childhood Data & Policy Center provides high-quality evidence to inform early childhood policy in Vermont.
Overview
Vermont’s Early Childhood Data & Policy Center is a nonpartisan, independent source of data, research, publications, and important information for policymakers, stakeholders, and the public on issues and priorities for children ages birth through age 8 in Vermont. The Center was created to meet a critical need in Vermont in 2020: a centralized hub of the most high-quality, up-to-date information on the status of children and families across sectors. Vermont’s Early Childhood Data & Policy Center is a critical tool for answering policy questions by centralizing data from the complex early childhood system.
The Center is part of Building Bright Futures, Vermont’s early childhood public-private partnership charged under Title 33, Chapter 46, to be Vermont’s Early Childhood State Advisory Council (SAC), the mechanism used to advise the Governor and legislature on the well-being of children in the prenatal period through age eight and their families. One of BBF’s primary responsibilities is to monitor the early childhood system and maintain progress toward Vermont’s vision for the early childhood system. The Center is one key component of how BBF meets this obligation.
The Need for Centralized Cross-Sector Data at Vermont’s Early Childhood Data & Policy Center
Vermont has a complicated system of governance and administration (with multiple departments, divisions, agencies, and private community partners such as health care providers, child care programs, and parent child centers responsible for service delivery and administration). Consequently, the data collected by the range of entities administering and overseeing these services, resources, and supports is not centralized, coordinated, or integrated, which makes it difficult to understand a full picture of the well-being of children and families across sectors. The lack of integrated data limits continuous quality improvement efforts and Vermont’s ability to answer critical policy questions about the impact of programs and policies.
As Vermont’s Early Childhood State Advisory Council, Building Bright Futures is committed to using and producing the most up-to-date, high-quality data to inform decision-making and serves a critical role in Vermont, operating as a broker of data and information to guide policy decisions and strategy related to children, families, and the early childhood system. While Vermont does not yet have an early childhood integrated data system (ECIDS), in which data across all sectors is integrated and housed within and across state agencies, Vermont’s Early Childhood Data & Policy Center is a first step in centralizing cross-sector data in a clear, accessible way.
Access to high-quality, up-to-date data allows us to respond more efficiently and effectively to the needs of children and families statewide and understand and monitor how our system, and decision-making, impact outcomes for those most vulnerable. Consistently reviewing data also allows the entire system (policy makers, agency leadership, community partners, and families) to identify where there are gaps in the system, where duplication exists, how resources are (or are not) successful in impacting outcomes, what to prioritize, and evaluate progress on existing initiatives. Viewing data across sectors also serves as a reminder of the linkages and interactions between and among early childhood programs, services, and resources, and allows us to coordinate data priorities. Finally, providing publicly accessible early childhood data in one centralized place allows us to know, across sectors, whether we’re making a difference in the lives of children and families.
How We’re Different
- Nonpartisan, independent, data-driven approach to informing policy
- Interdisciplinary, cross-sector expertise and partnerships
- Commitment to identifying and utilizing indicators to monitor progress within the goals articulated in Vermont’s Early Childhood Action Plan (VECAP)