The Leadership Council on Early Years (LCEY) Wisconsin has a proud history of investing in children and families as a strategy to ensure our state’s long-term prosperity. A foundational element of Wisconsin’s successful PDG application includes the formation of the Governor’s Leadership Council on Early Years (LCEY), an effort to make strategic connections across state government agencies to better serve and improve outcomes for all of Wisconsin’s children and their families, particularly those who are most vulnerable and underserved. The Governor’s LCEY is an interagency committee comprised of state agency leaders who will direct the work of their agencies to promote coherence across birth to 5 (B-5) early care and education and family service delivery, in line with the Governor’s vision and direction. The LCEY will complement the work of the multi-sector Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) in achieving WI’s vision and goals. Major PDG activities include the development of a statewide needs assessment and strategic plan. Additionally, the grant will fund localized technical assistance and the development of rigorous evaluation infrastructure to inform continuous quality improvement for Wisconsin’s early care and education system. The LCEY will provide high-level guidance into the development of the needs assessment, strategic plan, specific action steps, and outcome measurements. The LCEY will use a multitude of existing stakeholder forums to generate feedback on the strategic plan from partners who support child well-being. As an interagency committee comprised of state agency leaders, the LCEY will also be able to implement the goals outlined in the strategic plan to steer state agencies to build a common child centered agenda. Council Mission What’s best for our kids is best for our state. Leaders of state agencies are charged to work together to harness collective strengths and resources; make strategic connections; streamline programs and services; and align best practices. The LCEY will develop the vision around, and provide direction for, implementing systems changes at the state level that can have a lasting benefit for children and families, and the state. They will collaborate to improve the well-being, healthy development, and kindergarten readiness outcomes among all children ages birth to 5. They contribute to an equitable B-5 state system that meets the needs of families and prepares Wisconsin children to succeed and thrive. Structure and Membership LCEY is comprised of state agency heads, Cabinet Secretaries, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Executive Directors of the Office of Children’s Mental Health and the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board. Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Emilie Amundson will chair the Council, and the Governor, First Lady, and Governor’s office staff will participate as available. Agency/Office Members Office of the Governor & the First Lady Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board (CANPB) Dept. of Administration (DOA) Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Dept. of Children and Families (DCF) Dept. of Corrections (DOC) Dept. of Financial Institutions Dept. of Health Services (DHS) Dept. of Public Instruction (DPI) Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) Dept. of Revenue Dept. of Transportation (DOT) Dept. of Veteran's Affairs (DVA) Dept. of Workforce Development Office of Children's Mental Health (OCMH) WI Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) WI Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) Meeting Materials July 29, 2024 - Virtual Meeting Public Meeting Notice and Agenda February 21, 2024 - Virtual Meeting Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Minutes Final Meeting Materials Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR) Presentation Housing Insecurity and Child Well-Being Presentation Stable Homes Are Critical to Thriving Families Presentation by WHEDA October 26, 2023 - Virtual Meeting Text Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Minutes Final June 1, 2023 - Virtual Meeting Text Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Minutes Final February 22, 2023 - Virtual Meeting Text Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Minutes (draft) October 27, 2022 - Virtual Meeting Text Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Materials Project Growth Overview report DCF Community Approach Infographic Raising Wisconsin: A Broken Business Model flyer Raising Wisconsin: Wisconsin’s Child Care Landscape flyer Raising Wisconsin: Economic Ripple Effect flyer Meeting Minutes (draft) August 4, 2022 - Virtual Meeting Text Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Materials Wisconsin Birth to 3 Program Brochure Wisconsin Birth to 3 Program Conversation Checklist for People Who Work With Children Early Childhood Child Find Brochure Meeting Minutes April 28, 2022 - Virtual Meeting Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Materials Cutting Child Poverty in Half: Directions for Policymakers – INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON POVERTY – UW–Madison (wisc.edu) Darrick Hamilton: How "baby bonds" could help close the wealth gap | TED Talk Cash Aid to Poor Mothers Increases Brain Activity in Babies, Study Finds - The New York Times (nytimes.com) Meeting Minutes January 27, 2022 - Virtual Meeting Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Materials LCEY Participant Handout DCF Federal Relief Summary DWD Handout Meeting Minutes September 30, 2021 - Virtual Meeting Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Materials Afghan Refugee Informational Links A Refugee's Journey to the United States Different Statuses, Different Benefits: Determining Federal Assistance for Afghan Evacuees ECE Funding Opportunities LCEY Survey Report Meeting Minutes July 20, 2021 - Virtual Meeting Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Materials Collaborative Workforce Support Initiative Meeting Minutes April 21, 2021 - Virtual Meeting Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Materials EverGrow Learning Center Power Point Slides and Overview of EverGrow Learning Center (video, 6 minutes) Wisconsin Tomorrow – Building an Economy for All (child care focus on pages 47-53) Think Tank Discussion Scenarios and Questions Meeting Minutes February 18, 2021 - Virtual Meeting Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Materials Meeting Presentation Video by Dr. Rosemarie Allen on the importance of equity in early care and education. This video focuses on the issues of early childhood suspension and expulsion and the impact of investing in social emotional learning. 12 minute version 3 minute version additional resources here. Preschool Development Grant Strategic Plan Summary Meeting Minutes September 16, 2020 - Virtual Meeting *This meeting was rescheduled from August 27, 2020. Public Meeting Notice, Agenda, and Meeting Materials Meeting Minutes August 27, 2020 (Postponed) *This meeting was postponed until September 16, 2020. February 26, 2020 Public Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Materials LCEY Overview PDG Summary Meeting Minutes Comments? Questions? Email wipdg@wisconsin.gov
