Why is this Critical for Municipal leaders?
Strengthening state and local alignment is critical to the work of municipal leaders. When state and local leaders come together to support young children, systems can be more coordinated and streamlined and funding streams can be designed to meet local needs. If you are seeking to build meaningful relationships with your state or local counterparts, this resource is for you!
Decisions in early childhood systems generally follow a layered and complex structure. While each level of government plays a distinct role, lasting and meaningful progress depends on coordinated action across municipal, county and state levels. This collaboration unlocks new opportunities for funding, regional support and systemic alignment, in turn ensuring that all young children, their families, and providers have equitable access to the resources and opportunities essential for their well-being and long-term success.
Early childhood policy is a high-impact area with significant long-term social and economic returns. Intergovernmental collaboration enhances policy coherence and maximizes the effectiveness and efficiency of public investments. It ensures that programs are responsive to local needs while maintaining alignment with broader regional, state and national standards. In practice, this might look like local governments piloting innovative early learning initiatives that are scaled with state support or counties developing integrated data systems that inform both local and state decision-making. These efforts create a more responsive, aligned, and impactful early childhood system that delivers lasting value for young children, families and communities.
Key Questions to Ask Yourself
Reflecting on the following questions can help you identify opportunities, align priorities and strategically advance early childhood efforts within your city. Ask yourself these questions to guide your work in aligning state and local PN8 programs, funding and systems and strengthening intergovernmental partnerships:
- What are the opportunities and barriers in creating intergovernmental collaboration?
- What is our history with intergovernmental coordination? What’s worked in the past? What hasn’t?
- What are the power dynamics within and outside of our municipality?
- What is the current political early childhood landscape federally, and at the state and county levels?
- Are our city’s early childhood goals aligned with county and state priorities?
- Who are our key contacts at the county and state level for early childhood issues?
- Do we have regular communication channels with county and state partners?
- Is there a champion on the state level who we have or could connect with?
Who do we need to build and strengthen relationships with at the county and state level to expand and align our early childhood work?”
Your Next Steps for Getting Started
Municipal leaders can consider best practice approaches or strategies for strengthening your city, county and state alignment and apply some action steps to help you get started. Here are some helpful tips to get your PN8 state and local systems alignment going:
- Invite key city, county and state stakeholders to a series of meetings to share the early childhood goals and work of your city, explore opportunities for collaboration and identify next steps for continued connection.
- Establish a leadership structure to support intergovernmental collaboration.
- Designate individual(s) to lead the collaboration, strategic planning, coordination and communication across agencies and organizations.
- Create regular, structured communication channels, such as a joint task force, standing committee or an early childhood council.
- Share or co-develop strategic plans to align policies and goals to support an early childhood ecosystem.
- Consider implementing an integrated data and referral system to improve service coordination, reduce duplication, support evidence-informed decision-making and track outcomes for young children PN8.
- Use shared metrics to track progress and support joint decision-making to promote positive PN8 outcomes.
- Participate in peer learning exchanges and resource sharing using technical assistance opportunities such as NLCI’s peer learning networks.
Create legal and procedural infrastructure for sustained collaboration by establishing formal agreements and structures such as data sharing agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) outlining the roles and responsibilities of different PN8 serving agencies.
Potential Outcomes & Impacts
Strengthening state, county, and local alignment can lead to the following outcomes:
- Whole-Child, Whole Family Support: Integrated services that support children’s full development and address the comprehensive needs of families.
- Revenue and Resources: Coordinated efforts that unlock shared access to federal, state and private sector funding sources.
- Better Use of Data: Enhanced data sharing that informs program design and aligns services with local needs.
- Amplified Community Voice: Stronger platforms for residents and partners to advocate, share insights and influence decision-making.
Stronger Emergency Response: Faster, more coordinated action during crises through aligned systems and communication.
City Examples
Fairfax and Renville County, Minn.: The city and county are actively supporting the early childhood workforce through a Childcare Forgivable Loan Program aimed at increasing the number and sustainability of child care providers in the region.
Alamosa, Colo.: The City of Alamosa, CO, and the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley demonstrate intentional city–county–state coordination by aligning early childhood and family support services across six counties in Colorado through shared leadership and funding. Together, they leverage municipal engagement, state support, and cross-sector partnerships to create a sustainable, coordinated early childhood system regionally.
Houston and Harris County, Texas: In this city-county partnership, there is no formal Memorandum of Understanding or agreement. Two dedicated leaders, the City’s Director of Education and the County’s Director of Early Childhood Initiatives – committed to showing up for one another and sharing information to foster alignment and seize opportunities. Together, they map connections between local priorities and existing policies, identify areas for advancement or support and engage their respective Intergovernmental Affairs offices as needed. Throughout leadership transitions and shifting landscapes, open communication remains a key strategy for keeping stakeholders engaged and informed.
Resources to Help You Get Started
Early Childhood Municipal Policy 101: Aligning City, County, and State Policies & Practices
Aligning City, County, and State for Early Childhood Success
We Can’t Do It Alone: Strategies for State and Local Coordination on Prenatal-to-Three Efforts
Navigate the roadmap
Homepage
Knowing Your Government’s Structures & Power Influences
Making the Case for Early Childhood Success
Facilitating Cross-Departmental Collaboration
