Trust is Paramount: Northwest Early Learning Coalition
Author: Brenna Bream
Trust is paramount to Northwest Early Learning Coalition’s (NWEL) network. Believing that families are experts, NWEL aims to give them authority and influence in their communities. Embedding caregivers into their coalition’s web of regional and local partners keeps NWEL attuned and responsive to community needs. Comprised of members from Washington’s five most northwest counties (Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties), NWEL emphasizes strength at the local level. Linden Obel, NWEL’s Regional Lead, recognizes her region’s role as one of partnership alongside families and communities to help every child be successful at school and in life.
Real change comes in working across partners to find better solutions informed by family voices. In this way, NWEL’s emphasis is to build on existing community efforts through partnerships at the local level.
NWEL Coalition connects early learning coalitions in each of the five counties and is made up of County Leads and community partners who represent an array of childhood and family support services. Each county coalition within NWEL’s region is uniquely structured. While they prioritize different community-driven needs, there is a shared interest in improving family resource access and coordination. NWEL aspires to contribute to a “system that works for families instead of families working for a system that’s cumbersome,” which means, “empowering those most impacted by system challenges to lead,” Linden explains. It may be easier for a network to compartmentalize and stick with their niche, but the real change comes in working across partners to find better solutions informed by family voices. In this way, NWEL’s emphasis is to build on existing community efforts through partnerships at the local level.
The Help Me Grow - Skagit Family Resource Center provides basic needs items including Personal Protective Equipment, cleaning supplies, diapers, wipes, and formula.
One way Skagit County has leveraged community partnership is through the creation of Help Me Grow - Skagit Family Resource Center in October 2020. Aware of the many pathways and touchpoints families use to access services, the county prioritized NWEL’s “no wrong door” approach to resource coordination. The Resource Center is a hub of local information and assistance housed in the Children’s Museum of Skagit County, which their community identified as a safe, trusted and accessible place for families. The Resource Center was made possible by CARES Act funding, and in 2021, WithinReach provided funding for a Family Resource Navigator to act as a central access point in guiding families to services and resources. This provides families with a way to connect to resources on their own terms while helping to de-silo community partners in Skagit County.
Complex system problems don’t have a simple answer. Technology is an important tool, but the way to address challenges is through the trust that grows between people and relationships, which is a mindset shift.
Another way NWEL is improving resource access is through exploring open-source data sharing models. Whatcom County is working with Open Referral to integrate different resource system directories and databases. Their focus is on connecting and bolstering existing resource systems instead of duplicating or creating new ones. They acknowledge that complex system problems don’t have a simple answer. Technology is an important tool, but the way to address challenges is through the trust that grows between people and relationships, which is a mindset shift. Whatcom’s early learning coalition wants families to be able to access resource information through the pathway of their choice while knowing that information is current and reliable.
San Juan County has been working to understand where local families are accessing resources so they can identify resource gaps. A recent survey found that San Juan Island has lost 45% of childcare since the start of the pandemic. This spotlighted a big community need. So, with guidance from Whatcom County’s prior experience applying for ARPA funding, San Juan’s Resource Center received ARPA funding to start a parent coop childcare group on San Juan Island and a coop preschool on Lopez Island. By providing an opportunity for families to advocate, San Juan County is able to effectively respond and provide some relief to families who have lacked local childcare resources.
Success for them looks like shifting power to caregivers and nurturing trust within communities—relentless but vital work.
Snohomish County is also working alongside their community to identify needs by seeking feedback from those furthest from opportunity. The early learning coalition partnered with Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest (RISNW) and a team of interpreters to identify how to better reach out to the Afghan refugee community, focusing on culturally appropriate messaging and questions. The county had also learned of a big need for toys for refugee families. RISNW and Volunteers of America are partnering to organize a toy donation for young kids in the community, and the coalition is excited to support the effort. Effective partnerships establish connections that allow the network to quickly share what’s going on in the community. This is both efficient for funding needs and reduces duplication. NWEL is devoted to collaboration that reflects community-driven needs rather than creating resources a community may not use. They remain in service to communities by giving them power to realize solutions rather than intervening on their behalf.
Infants with their caregivers play at Playscape North - Toddler Learning Center in Oak Harbor, WA.
NWEL’s posture toward families fosters engagement by giving them agency in their communities. Island County is currently exploring how to increase parent and caregiver involvement. Some families can’t attend their meetings, so they’re creating more opportunities for connection. They formed two workgroups to build this capacity—Advocacy and Parent/Caregiver Voice. A portion of WA STEM Early Learning Catalyst grant funds will be used to build on momentum and recommendations of their local Child Care Task Force. Interdependence between local and regional resources allows for dynamic responses to community-identified needs.
By harnessing the power of those closest to the experience, NWEL aspires to share leadership with caregivers and families. Linden says this causes her region to bring their attention back to shared goals and the “why” behind them. They strongly value relationships, trust, and empowering community leaders to lead. These are often a secondary focus because data is the gold star for measuring quantitative results. Metrics can be useful in policy and advocacy work, but, “how do you communicate the value of trust, relationships, power and leadership structure when there’s not a traditional, fiscal way to do so?” Linden asks. NWEL is more interested in measuring their impact over any of their intentions. Success for them looks like shifting power to caregivers and nurturing trust within communities—relentless but vital work.
You can stay connected to NWEL’s work locally and regionally through their Facebook page or their website, which will be getting an update in coming months.