Case Study

Central to our work is lifting up stakeholder voices and experiences to actively shape policy and systems design. Using focus groups, interviews, and surveys, we connect the architects of programs and policies to those “living the system” and bring together diverse stakeholder voices to strengthen collective action toward improving the lives of children and families.

As part of their Preschool Development Grant Birth–5 (PDG B–5) needs assessment and early childhood mental health strategic planning efforts, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) wanted to better understand the first-hand experiences of early childhood stakeholders.

Through focus groups and town hall meetings, the Policy Equity Group facilitated rich community dialogues among parents, early childhood educators, professional development providers, administrators, higher education faculty, state leadership, local business and government leaders, and community advocates. The findings from these community meetings were used to distill key themes across the state, elevate the voices of practitioners and families, and create actionable recommendations to support practice-informed policy.

As a result of these efforts, MSDE gained valuable insights about the most pressing challenges for families and early childhood providers, barriers and gaps in the current system, and new perspectives on how current systems can be strengthened. These findings were critical to Maryland’s successful PDG B–5 implementation and renewal grant application and the development of a statewide infant–early childhood mental health strategic plan.

See the final report and strategic plan here