Early childhood education is a cornerstone of development for all children, but it holds particular significance for families involved with Child Protective Services (CPS). Recognizing the profound impact of early learning, Washington state has pioneered the Child Welfare Early Learning Navigators (CWELN) project. This crucial initiative is dedicated to connecting CPS-involved families with vital early learning and family support programs, aiming to foster positive outcomes and prevent future challenges.
Research consistently demonstrates that early learning and family support systems are powerful tools for families facing the complexities of CPS involvement. These programs are proven to be effective in preventing child maltreatment, reducing the instances of children entering foster care, and significantly improving overall family well-being. Despite these clear benefits, data revealed that less than half of eligible families in Washington state involved with CPS were accessing these essential resources. The CWELN project was established to address this gap, ensuring that more families can benefit from these transformative early learning experiences.
The core mission of the CWELN project is to foster long-term positive outcomes for children and families. This includes decreasing subsequent reports of abuse or neglect and reducing the need for out-of-home placements for families with ongoing child welfare cases. To achieve this, DCYF undertook a thorough data collection and analysis process to pinpoint opportunities for better serving families through strengthened connections between child welfare, early learning, and family support systems. The linchpin of this project is the DCYF Child Welfare Early Learning Navigators (CWELNs). These dedicated professionals collaborate closely with CPS caseworkers to provide tailored support and connect families with young children to high-quality early learning and enriching family support experiences.
Currently, the impactful work of CWELNs is being implemented across three key regions within Washington state. These regions include South King, Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific, and Yakima counties. In a significant step towards inclusivity and expanded reach, a new Tribal CWELN position was introduced in December 2021. This dedicated role is specifically focused on serving tribal communities, acknowledging and addressing their unique needs and cultural contexts. For those seeking a visual representation of the project’s regional coverage, an online map is available at www.dcyf.wa.gov/safety/report-abuse.
A critical component of the CWELN project is the commitment to refining and enhancing referral processes. The CWELN team is diligently working to establish more consistent tracking mechanisms for when child welfare staff and navigators refer families to essential community early learning resources. These resources encompass a wide spectrum of programs, including child care, Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), Head Start, home visiting services, Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT), and Early Childhood Intervention and Prevention Services (ECLIPSE). The insights gleaned from this enhanced tracking system are intended to achieve several key objectives:
- Identify Effective Referral Strategies: Determine which referral approaches are most successful in facilitating family enrollment in early learning services. This includes leveraging tools such as a conversation guide and an accompanying grid designed to streamline and improve the referral process.
- Address “Missed Connections”: Proactively identify and resolve instances where families express a desire to connect with early learning resources but encounter obstacles or become disengaged within the referral process.
- Develop Responsive Systems: Create robust systems that enable the identification of gaps in needed services and pinpoint bottlenecks in real-time. This allows for regular adjustments to practices, ensuring the project remains agile and responsive to the evolving needs of families.
The CWELN Project is made possible through the funding support of the Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5). This vital grant was renewed in 2019, providing crucial resources to carry out approved project activities over a three-year period concluding in December 2022.
As the CWELN team moves into its next phase, there is considerable enthusiasm to translate the valuable lessons learned from the project into ongoing practice improvements and broader policy changes throughout the state. This project is recognized as a significant stride towards the ambitious statewide goal of connecting all families, especially those navigating active child welfare cases, to readily accessible early learning resources. The team is dedicated to meticulously capturing data and key learnings from the project, focusing on identifying necessary systemic changes and rigorously evaluating the impact of navigator referrals. This commitment ensures that this critical endeavor is continuously refined and operates at maximum effectiveness.
To delve deeper into the CWELN project and its initiatives, please reach out to Minnette Mason via email at [email protected] or by phone at 360-480-9563.
For further resources and a more detailed exploration of the CWELN project’s impact, please visit: https://govlab.hks.harvard.edu/files/govlabs/files/wa_dcyf_project_feature.pdf.
