Taking Action For Hawai‘i’s Youngest Keiki

Early Childhood Action Strategy (ECAS) brings together diverse stakeholders, through a collective impact model, to strengthen the systems that support Hawai‘i’s youngest keiki and their ‘ohana.

AFK
Strengthening ECAS for Its Next Chapter
Strengthening ECAS for Its Next Chapter

ECAS has been engaged in a comprehensive assessment of Network efforts, capacity and priorities. The current period of transition has created an opportunity to clarify ECAS’s purpose and strengthen the organization for its next chapter as we adjust to changing conditions and an evolving early childhood landscape.

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Revised ECAS Framework
Revised ECAS Framework

ECAS team conveners and backbone staff have developed a revised conceptual framework to guide our next phase. Our revised framework has been informed by the BUILD Initiative’s model of a comprehensive and equitable early childhood system.

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Rooted in Community, Guided by Data, and Strengthened by Aloha
Rooted in Community, Guided by Data, and Strengthened by Aloha

This year, the Kaʻū Community-Centered Partnership (CCP) reached an inspiring milestone, one shaped by the collective voices, knowledge, and aloha of community. 

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Shifting the Narrative: A New Culture of Philanthropy
Shifting the Narrative: A New Culture of Philanthropy

Community-Centered Partnerships (CCP) represent a fundamental departure from traditional, top-down models of giving.

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First of Its Kind in the State of Hawaiʻi: A Major Step Forward for the Early Intervention Workforce
First of Its Kind in the State of Hawaiʻi: A Major Step Forward for the Early Intervention Workforce

Over the next five years, Chaminade University will develop and validate a culturally responsive post-baccalaureate certificate in Early Intervention

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Growing Local Food Access in Early Childhood Care 
Growing Local Food Access in Early Childhood Care 

A Hawaiʻi coalition comprised of local food and ECE systems partners was awarded the opportunity to participate in FARMWISE (2024-2026).

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Building Public-Private Collaboration to Increase Breastfeeding Success
Building Public-Private Collaboration to Increase Breastfeeding Success

The Statewide Breastfeeding Workgroup (BFWG) deepened collaboration with historic partners like Breastfeeding Hawaiʻi to address breastfeeding support needs identified by WIC staff.

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Investing in Locally Generated Maternal Health Knowledge, Leadership, and Solutions
Investing in Locally Generated Maternal Health Knowledge, Leadership, and Solutions

The Community Innovation Program supports community-led maternal health improvements by investing in locally generated knowledge, leadership, and solutions.

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Family Voices - An Effort to Shift Awareness, Narrative and Culture
Family Voices - An Effort to Shift Awareness, Narrative and Culture

By continuing to shift the awareness to family voices and lived experience, we hope to move the narrative and culture of systems change in Hawai‘i, in a positive direction.

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Recap of the Hawaiʻi State 2025 Legislative Session
Recap of the Hawaiʻi State 2025 Legislative Session

The ECAS Policy Team and the Commit to Keiki Steering Committee built a diverse agenda for the 2025 Legislative Session. The end of Session is the time to celebrate wins, discuss challenges and identify opportunities.

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Message to the Network
Message to the Network

On behalf of the ECAS backbone staff, we wanted to send out some words of encouragement during these very trying times that are inevitably impacting all of us and those that we support.

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True Cost of Providing Quality Child Care in Hawaiʻi
True Cost of Providing Quality Child Care in Hawaiʻi

The Child Care Provider Survey is designed to collect data on the expenses needed to sustain services, as well as any and all revenue sources that support child care services.

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Integrating Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
Integrating Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Carefully twisting many fibers will create a strong and cohesive cordage to support Hawai‘i’s youngest keiki. The IECBH convening of cross-sector leaders was an opportunity to champion systems-level strategies and there is great interest to keep this momentum going.

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Coaching Teachers and Families, Building Language Rich Environments
Coaching Teachers and Families, Building Language Rich Environments

The CLSD Wahiawa Collaborative provides coaching for teachers and families to improve pre-literacy skills.

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Lactation Access Transforming Communities in Hawaiʻi
Lactation Access Transforming Communities in Hawaiʻi

Improved access to lactation consultation reduces inequities in health care access and improves outcomes for children and families.

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Hawaiʻi Zero to Three Court
Hawaiʻi Zero to Three Court

Hawai`i Zero to Three Court helps children and families facing trauma and toxic stress.

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Mapping the Early Childhood System in Hawaiʻi
Mapping the Early Childhood System in Hawaiʻi

Network partners are bringing their collective wisdom and shared experience to the project of understanding the ecosystem of support for keiki and ‘ohana across Hawai`i. Click here for the Systems Learning Blog.

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Family Hui Hawaiʻi and Read to Me International
Family Hui Hawaiʻi and Read to Me International

Family Hui Hawai`i (FHH) has guided language and literacy development programming in the Wahiawa community on O`ahu as part of Hawai`i’s Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant, in collaboration with Read to Me International and the ECAS network’s Words Matter strategy. 

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CACFP Resource Mapping
CACFP Resource Mapping

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is an important federally funded program that increases access to nutritious, well-balanced meals for keiki in child care settings. ECE providers are partners in increasing food access and nutrition security and ensuring that our youngest keiki and their families can thrive. 

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Embedding Physical Activity and Nutrition Supports in Hawaiʻi’s Early Childhood System
Embedding Physical Activity and Nutrition Supports in Hawaiʻi’s Early Childhood System

In May 2023, 45 cross-sector stakeholders from 30 organizations attended the Healthy Keiki, Healthy Future Convening.

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The period of early childhood offers an incredible opportunity…

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