Strategic Goals

Strategic Goals

Goal A: Build the Profession

Increase support of a highly skilled, professional workforce

Goal A1

Create opportunities for networking, information sharing, and peer learning at every level of the profession

Indicators

  • Identify and implement one strategy to support directors in recruitment of staff (e.g. media campaign, branding)
  • Networking meetings offered to all center directors
  • ECE related service and resource providers invited to participate in relevant center director networking meetings
  • Increased opportunities (over the one opportunity in November 2019) for ECEA directors to network outside monthly meeting 

Activites

  • Provide monthly networking meetings in 10 or more months per year including contact when possible
  • Through peer relationships and targeted recruitment efforts, recruit 5 more directors who did not engage in 2018-19 to the monthly meetings
  • Build up communication and resources through the website, social media, and email that raises awareness of ECEA and publicizes tangible benefits
  • Provide opportunities for stakeholders to share/exchange information at monthly meetings
  • Provide web-based private chat site for directors monitored by webmaster
  • Provide directors the opportunity to participate in an annual network retreat/luncheon

Goal A2

Expand ECEA's involvement in training and professional development offerings

Indicators

  • Expand director level training embedded in network meetings based on topics identified by the directors
  • Identify external learning opportunities that would deepen director skills and knowledge, and support them to make plans to attend
  • Expand collaborative involvement in ECE related training offerings (Infant/Toddler Initiative, Be Resilient UV)
  • Support UVEI in recruitment of ECEA directors in soft pilot by end of 2020

Activites

  • Increase the number of director level trainings offered during monthly meetings (over the 4 offered in 2019)
  • Increase ECE workforce’s knowledge of local, regional, state and national training opportunities
  • Increase the number of training opportunities for the ECE workforce through internal collaborative efforts (above the 4 offered in 2019)
  • Increase the number of training opportunities for the ECE workforce through external collaborative efforts (above the 2 offered in 2019)

Goal A3

Transfer learning into quality improvements in programs and services​

Indicators

  • Begin efforts to support a culture of intentional classroom development 
  • Begin efforts to support implementation of best practices in classrooms

Activities

  • Identify needs for supporting intentional classrooms (survey, interview)
  • Identify needs for supporting implementation of best practices in classrooms (survey, interview)
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration with existing projects/learning opportunities
  • Share opportunities for quality improvement on ECEA website

Goal A4

Support area directors in efforts to retain and recruit staff

Indicators

  • Increase efforts in supporting directors in staff retainment
  • Increase efforts in supporting directors in staff recruitment

Activites

  • Identify and implement one strategy to support directors in retainment of staff (e.g. Staff wellness project, Caring for Caregivers)
  • Identify and implement one strategy to support directors in recruitment of staff (e.g. media campaign, branding)

Goal B: Advocacy

Be a voice for the sector through the collective power of ECEA

Goal B1

Strengthen our capacity by building relationships with key stakeholders and other networks

Indicators

  • Continued participation and collaboration with established key stakeholders and networks 
  • Increase capacity by building new relationships with key stakeholders and networks

Activites

  • Maintain collaboration with Work United Project and Child Forum network, Child Care Aware NH and Northern Lights at CCV
  • Identify collaborative opportunities with key stakeholders and networks in the region (DH-Community Health Partnership, Starting Points, Integrated Family Services)

Goal B2

Be at the table in regional and statewide settings to influence policies and systems change

Indicators

  • Continued representation at Building Bright Futures (regional, state), Let’s Grow Kids, NH-Preschool Development Grant, NH Child Care Advisory
  • Increase representation at local, regional and state levels as needed
  • Increase bi-directional communication between network and regional/statewide settings

Activites

  • Network coordinator will represent the ECEA at targeted advocacy meetings
  • Network coordinator will facilitate strategic presence of ECEA directors at targeted regional and statewide meetings
  • Inform the network of regional and statewide policies and systems changes (network meetings, website)

Goal C: Sustainability

Assure that the ECEA is a strong organization able to carry out its mission

Goal C1

Implement a paid Network Coordinator position

Indicators

  • A paid Network Coordinator is in place and funded for 2020
  • Reporting relationships between the Network Coordinator, Board Co-Chairs, and Executive Committee are implemented

Activites

  • Contract and salary are finalized by January 2020
  • Regular support and check-ins are taking place between the Network Coordinator and Board Co-Chairs
  • Network Coordinator and Executive Committee are meeting regularly on a monthly basis, and conducting a check-in on the strategic plan every 4 months
  • Staffing needs for 2021 are defined by October 2020, based on the experience of piloting the position in 2020

Goal C2

Create a sustainable funding plan to support ECEA staffing and programs

Indicators

  • Development of a 2-year plan for sustainable funding (2021-2022)
  • Substantial portion of 2021 revenue secured or likely by December of 2020

Activites

  • Build a budget for 2021 by fall 2020, including Network Coordinator hours and cost.
  • Through the Professional Development Committee, identify training and professional development priorities for 2021 and costs involved.
  • Identify collaborative relationships that benefit ECEA members
  • Identify potential funding partners and reach out for one-on-one meetings.

Goal C3

Maintain a healthy governance and leadership structure with clear board, committee, and staff roles

Indicators

  • Create and maintain sustainable leadership and committee structures that keeps the strategic plan on track without undue burden on officers and committees
  • Continue to develop the Roles and responsibilities of the Network Coordinator, officers, committees, and ECEA membership revised, if needed, to reflect learnings from the year
  • Maintain clear communication and a constructive working relationship between the Network Coordinator, Board Co-Chairs, Executive Committee and other committees

Activites

  • Ensure that regular meetings of standing and ad hoc committees have clear agendas and effective outputs to implement strategic goals
  • Monitor and adjust roles and expectations to keep within sustainable time commitments
  • Explore experience and mentoring opportunities for members and committees to build a pipeline of future committee chairs and officers
  • Utilize periodic consultation and support from the governance consultant