Early Edge California values the voices of those directly involved in or impacted by Early Learning and Care. Through our network of advisory groups—including early learning educators, child care providers, and parents—we gather input from diverse communities across the state. Several times a year, each group convenes to share about their lived challenges and areas of critical need, and provide feedback that informs the focus of our advocacy efforts, helping us connect policy to practice.
Interested in Our Advisory Groups?
We are constantly recruiting for our Advisory Groups with the hope of creating groups that match the linguistic, ethnic, and geographic background of all Californians. If you or someone you know is interested in joining, please contact us at [email protected].
As part of its strategic objectives around community and partner engagement, Early Edge has created an Advisory Group Leadership Council of lead participants from each established advisory group to provide opportunities for deeper collaboration and impact. Members of the Leadership Council will represent their advisory group, serving as a liaison between the group members and Early Edge. Activities include participating in planning meetings, presenting to their peers about what was discussed in Advisory Group meetings, and providing input on key engagement materials and feedback tools (such as the advisory group annual feedback survey) as requested.
Early Edge’s first advisory group, which started in fall 2018, is composed of Family Child Care Home (FCCHs) providers, teachers and assistants from child care centers, and teachers and paraeducators from the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), Head Start, Transitional Kindergarten, and Kindergarten. Participants are from across the state, representing programs in Los Angeles, Fresno, and the Bay Area. The Educator Advisory Group helps us connect policy to practice by reviewing and providing feedback on Early Edge’s advocacy and policy proposals as well as keeping us informed of emerging issues in the field.
Our Parent Advisory Group began in summer 2020 and invites parents from across the state to share their experiences, challenges, and needs, and to learn about Early Learning and Care policy development and updates. Groups are held in both English and Spanish to allow our team to hear from a diverse set of parents and offer their feedback and perspective on the local and state policies that would most help young children and their families.
Our FFN Advisory Group began in fall 2020 and brings together informal, home-based providers from across the state who care for the children of their family members, friends, and neighbors. FFN care is the most common form of child care, particularly for infants and toddlers. Through the meetings, Early Edge connects with FFN caregivers to hear their perspectives on how policymakers can serve this prevalent, but often overlooked group of caregivers. FFN Advisory Group meetings are held in both English and Spanish.