Coordinated Eligibility and Enrollment: Improving Access to Early Care and Education

Early care and education systems can often be fragmented across agencies and funding streams, making it difficult for families to find and access the programs and services they need and may be eligible for. In states and localities across the country, however, leaders are leveraging a unique strategy to address those challenges and build more robust, interconnected support systems for families and children. In this episode of The SRI Homeroom, hosts Howard Morrison and Ginger Elliott-Teague explore coordinated eligibility and enrollment (CEE), a systems-building strategy designed to improve awareness, access, and enrollment in early care and education services. They sit down with Beth Moore of South Carolina First Steps and Anne Morrison of First 5 Alameda County to discuss effective state- and county-level approaches to the design, implementation, and sustainment of impactful CEE systems. Beth and Anne share insights and offer practical recommendations for states and communities working to strengthen their early care and education systems. They also discuss the importance of relationship-building and community engagement in the CEE development process. Learn more about CEE and how states and communities can build and strengthen CEE systems in this three-part video series, or by reading this SRI research brief. If you have questions or are interested in partnering with SRI’s CEE experts, email us at [email protected]. Access a transcript of today’s show and browse our archive of episodes on the Homeroom website.Today’s Guests Beth Moore, Chief of Engagement, South Carolina First Steps. Anne Morrison, Early Care and Education Design Officer, First 5 Alameda County. Today’s Hosts Howard Morrison, Early Childhood Technical Assistance Specialist, SRI. Ginger Elliott-Teague, Senior Education Researcher, SRI.