An Action Team is formed, comprised of NCMC Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator Jennifer Wixson, a research program coordinator and a data analyst.

Community input collected from surveys, focus groups and interviews informs a proposed set of evidence- and community-based innovations that address the following impact areas.

5 Impact Areas:

1. 1. Affordability of care
   2. Accessibility of care
   3. Capacity of the local child care network
   4. Workforce opportunities and increased wages for new/existing child care workers
   5. Quality of care for all children

Planning, research and outreach work is conducted to thoroughly vet the proposed innovations for potential impact and feasibility, and to assure alignment and optimal phasing across each. Innovations that address two or more of the impacts listed above will be prioritized, along with innovations that can be managed and financially maintained long-term.

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Phase II consists of the implementation and evaluation of the local innovations identified in Phase I.

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Phase III of the initiative is the long-term, sustainability plan: the creation of the Center for Innovations in Early Care and Education, housed at NCMC. The Center for Innovations in Early Care and Education will provide the mechanism for scaling-out and scaling-up the local innovations to other communities in our region and throughout the state. These innovations will serve as models of success, examples of quality solutions, and evidence that local, community-based solutions are the most sustainable. The Center for Innovations also has the potential to serve as the facilitator for the many initiatives and solutions that the community pursues.