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Network Policy Efforts / Network Updates July 2024
The network helps to shape the direction and focus of public and organizational policy in Hawai‘i through the Commit to Keiki effort and the Early Childhood Action Strategy (ECAS) policy engagement process. In the 2024 session, both ECAS and Commit to Keiki supported measures that would strengthen and expand child care and early learning, support early childhood mental health, and help to prevent family violence.
Summary of Legislative Session 2024
See our full Mid-Year Update for a comprehensive status of key measures supported.
We deeply appreciate the policy efforts of the Infant / Toddler (I/T) workgroup of ECAS Team 4 who continue to advocate for wage supplements and other initiatives to support the early childhood workforce.
Key I/T workgroup efforts in 2024 have included:
Advocacy on behalf of the early childhood workforce wage measures, and the effort to extend contracts for subsidized classrooms, including infant / toddler classrooms
Engaged with Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide initial and ongoing feedback on Infant / Toddler staff-qualifications waiver guidelines and demonstration projects
Submitted testimony to DHS on the 2025-2027 Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan for States
ECAS Policy Strategy Moving Forward
In June, Peggy Mierzwa joined ECAS as the new Policy Lead. We look forward to her guidance as we prepare for the 2025 legislative session.
