Early Childhood Strategy: Coordinated Recruitment and Enrollment

This strategy aims to streamline the families’ process of finding and enrolling young children in comprehensive, specialized and intervention programs and services, and accessing financial support and resources while promoting equity, efficiency, and transparency. Cross-agency and cross-sector collaboration among the various players in the early care and education ecosystem is key to systemic coordination and systematic access to and delivery of services. The following are some of the key components in an effective system of coordinated recruitment and enrollment in early care and education:

• Centralized Access Points: Establishing centralized access pointsⁱ, such as online portals, hotlines, or brick-and-mortar or mobile physical locations allows families access to information about available ECE programs, eligibility criteria, application processes, and enrollment deadlines. These access points serve as one-stop shops for families seeking ECE services, simplifying challenging application processes and aiding in navigating through barriers to access.
• Comprehensive Information and Guidance: Providing families with comprehensive information and guidance helps them navigate the ECE landscape and make informed decisions about program options. This includes information about different types of ECE programs (e.g., childcare centers, preschools, family childcare homes), program quality ratings or accreditation status, program schedules, location and proximity, fees, financial assistance options, and availability of specialized and intervention services. Child care resource and referral agencies can serve as a resource hubs for families, child care professionals and communitiesⁱⁱ.
• Outreach and Marketing: Conducting coordinated and targeted outreach and marketing campaigns is critical to raise awareness about ECE programs and services, particularly among underserved and marginalized communitiesⁱⁱⁱ. This may involve collaborating with community organizations, schools, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders to disseminate information, host informational sessions, and distribute materials in multiple languages.
• Cross-Agency Collaboration: Fostering collaboration among ECE providers, school districts, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community partners^iv is the first step to coordinating recruitment and enrollment efforts across the early care and education ecosystem. This includes sharing information about available slots, coordinating application processes and timelines, and aligning eligibility criteria across programs to reduce duplication and streamline access.
• Needs Assessment and Planning: Conducting needs assessments can help identify gaps in ECE services and areas of unmet demand within communities.  This information can be used to inform strategic planning and resource allocation decisions, such as expanding capacity in high-need areas, targeting recruitment efforts to underserved populations, and prioritizing investments in program quality improvements^v.
• Data Sharing and Integration: Establishing mechanisms for sharing data and information^vi across ECE programs, agencies, and organizations can facilitate coordinated recruitment and enrollment efforts. This may involve developing interoperable or cross-platform data systems, sharing enrollment data, and leveraging technology^vii to streamline processes and reduce administrative burden for families and providers^viii.
• Family Support Services: Providing families with support services such as completing enrollment forms, accessing financial assistance, arranging transportation, and navigating cultural or logistical barriers may be necessary to address barriers to enrollment, such as language barriers, transportation challenges, or lack of documentation^ix.  
• Continuous Improvement: Monitoring and evaluating recruitment and enrollment processes will help to identify areas for improvement and ensure that services are responsive to the needs of families and communities^x. Feedback from families, providers, and stakeholders can help to identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities for enhancement.

Programs and Practices Within This Strategy

• Home visitation
• Maternal and child health and wellness (coming soon)
• Developmental screenings and assessments
• Community centers  
• Local Coalitions

See it in Action

• Kentucky HANDS Home Visitation Program
• Metro United Way Developmental Screening Hub  
• Help Me Grow KY
• KYnect
• Neighborhood Place