Successful Start, Rhode Island’s Early Childhood Systems Plan

This report outlines the comprehensive, statewide Early Childhood Systems Plan, which was developed to create a better system of services for young children and families in Rhode Island so that all young children reach their full potential. The four components of Successful Start include: (1) effective parent education and family support, (2) quality early care and education, (3) coordinated medical homes, and (4) healthy social-emotional development. Some of the goals for children and families in Rhode Island include: (1) families, communities, and policymakers understand the importance of the early childhood years and there is public and political will for accessible and effective early childhood services; (2) early childhood and family services are part of a streamlined and coordinated early childhood system that allows parents and families to access a range of services through multiple points of entry; (3) high-quality parenting and early childhood information, services, and support are universally available to all families to support and promote young children’s healthy development; (4) all young children have access to quality developmental screening and are connected to appropriate and effective intervention services; (5) effective comprehensive services are available to all children and families with significant risk factors for poor developmental outcomes; (6) all children with challenging behaviors and special needs have access to quality early care and education; and (7) all early childhood service providers have the capacity and ability to support the healthy social-emotional development of young children and families.