Areas of Work

Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the value of an Early Childhood Comprehensive System to the state?  How and why did the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Planning Initiative evolve?
• How would I learn about other states’ initiatives?
• What is a medical home and why was it one of the critical components included in the Comprehensive Systems Plan?

What is the value of an Early Childhood Comprehensive System to the state?  How and why did the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Planning Initiative evolve?

The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Planning Initiative emerged from three years of effort by a collaborative team of more than 50 participants, representing all relevant state agencies and many provider and advocacy organizations, colleges and universities, and parents. The team was convened by the Council on Children and Families and the state Department of Health. Funding for this effort came from the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau within the US Department of Health and Human Services.

As the planning team worked, a consensus view emerged: New York has many quality services and programs in place, but they lack coordination. Uncoordinated efforts yield inefficiencies that mean we’re not helping as many children as possible with the available funding.

The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Planning Initiative’s premise is that with coordination and improved accountability, New York’s collective investment in children’s health and welfare can achieve more. This will improve the quality of life for more children today and reduce future public expense.

In short, we need to close the gap between what is and what should be. This challenge is neither small nor quickly resolved. Accordingly, the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Planning Initiative takes a pragmatic view, outlining a phased, prioritized approach to achieving desired outcomes.

To learn more about this initiative, please visit the Council's NYS Early Childhood Comprehensive Plan web page.

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How would I learn about other states’ initiatives?

In 2003, 48 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Republic of Palau were awarded grants to develop similar Comprehensive Early Childhood Systems-building plans. 

All efforts involve a broad range of public and private early childhood agencies, parents and communities who share the goal of promoting the health and well-being of children from birth to age five. The plans address the key components of health and the medical home, early care and education, mental health, and social-emotional development, family support and parenting education. 

To view the plans for other states as they become public documents, go to the State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems website at http://www.state-eccs.org/.

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What is a medical home and why was it one of the critical components included in the Comprehensive Systems Plan?

The American Academy of Pediatrics describes the medical home as a model of delivering primary care that is accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective. While respecting the culture and unique needs of each family, the Academy highlights certain critical principles of a “medical home” for children:

1. That there is a trusting, collaborative, working partnership with families, respecting their diversity and recognizing that they are the constant in a child’s life (A Family-Centered Partnership);
2. That the network is family centered and coordinated, designed to promote the healthy development and well being of children and their families (A Community-Based System);
3. That the provision of high-quality, developmentally appropriate, health care services continue uninterrupted as the individual moves along and within systems of services and from adolescence to adulthood (Transitions);
4. That a high-performance health care system requires appropriate financing to support and sustain medical homes that promote system-wide quality care with optimal health outcomes, family satisfaction, and cost efficiency (Value).

A medical home offers the family a primary health provider who coordinates their health care. The provider has centers that are easy for the family members to reach and health care professionals who view the family members as partners who will take personal responsibility for their family’s well being. The service is continuous over time, family centered and accessible (welcoming, centrally located and open at convenient hours).

The primary provider coordinates and communicates with other specialized providers as they are necessary and reaches out to other services to engage families in a wide range of support and preventive or intervention resources as they are needed (i.e., parenting, early learning, speech therapy, counseling, housing, food, etc).  The provider takes responsibility for identifing and coordinating funding sources, whether they be private or public, foundations, health management organizations or insurance companies. This health services model advocates for health professionals to see themselves as part of a comprehensive and well integrated community based system.

With continuous care from a medical home, family members partner with medical professionals who can identify problems early, monitor progress over time and develop personal relationships that can lead to more effective compliance with treatment plans and preventive services.

One of the most important functions of a medical home is to monitor children’s growth and development as they age; in this way it is possible to identify and address any delays early.  

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