Bill > SM23

This Memorial requests the Children, Youth and Families Department to establish a task force to explore ways to improve how early childhood service providers communicate, work together, and coordinate their efforts. The Memorial highlights past issues where state and federal funding for early childhood programs, such as Head Start (a federal program providing free early childhood education to low-income children), were not used effectively, leading to under-enrollment and potential loss of funds. It also points out that uneven distribution of state funds has caused financial difficulties for some providers, resulting in the closure of services, particularly for infants and toddlers. The proposed task force, comprised of representatives from various state departments and early childhood organizations, aims to ensure better access to services for families with young children, maximize state resources, avoid duplicated efforts, and strengthen overall support for families. The task force is required to report its findings and suggestions to specific legislative committees by October 1, 2017.