Early Edge Hosts Inaugural All-Advisory Groups Meeting
As part of our commitment to connecting policy to practice, Early Edge California has been convening Early Learning and Care stakeholder advisory groups since 2018, providing a platform for educators, parents, and caregivers to uplift their most pressing needs and concerns. A topic that was elevated to the forefront across all of our advisory groups was the need for mental health support and resources. Working closely with our Advisory Group Leadership Council, and leveraging the expertise of partner organizations across the state, Early Edge convened its first-ever All-Advisory Groups Meeting to discuss this important topic as a collective and to share resources with our members.
The meeting took place on July 29th via Zoom, gathering 26 representatives from our Leading from Home cohort, Educator, Parent, and Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregiver groups, and hosted both in English and Spanish, thanks to the support of a simultaneous interpreter. Early Edge Executive Director Patricia Lozano provided welcoming remarks to advisory group members before turning it over to guest speakers at NAMI Urban LA, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), and the California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Network. Advisory group members heard an overview of each organization, highlighting free and accessible resources and services that they provide, along with guidance on how educators, parents, and caregivers can access them. Following the presentations, advisory group members had the opportunity to engage with the guest speakers through a Q&A session. The Early Edge team concluded the meeting by sharing curated mental health resources in English and Spanish to support the advisory groups.
Access mental health resources for educators, parents, and caregivers, developed by Early Edge California in English and Spanish.
Early Edge would like to thank our Advisory Group Leadership Council along with our guest speakers for their crucial support of our inaugural All-Advisory Groups Meeting. The majority of participants shared their appreciation and positive remarks about the meeting: “I enjoyed all the great information that was shared about the services available to the teachers and their mental health,” an advisory group member shared. “We don’t remember to help ourselves all the time.”
Early Edge is planning the next round of meetings for the respective advisory groups and looks forward to continuing to learn how we can best support educators, parents, and caregivers across California, recognizing and highlighting the expertise and commitment to quality Early Learning within our community. For more information about Early Edge’s Advisory Groups, please visit our Advisory Groups webpage.