Early childhood systems funded by the state and federal governments include child care, nutrition, and health care programs. (Getty Images)
Poor coordination between Nevada’s early childhood systems contributes to inefficient use of resources and limits access for those most in need, according to a report from a Nevada nonpartisan policy research center.
Nevada would benefit from a centralized governance structure within the governor’s office to support the state’s early childhood systems, with the goal of addressing fragmentation and inefficiency, according to the nonprofit Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities.
Early childhood systems funded by the state and federal government include child care, nutrition, and health care programs.
In Nevada, more than 60 separate state entities serve early childhood needs. The various programs are funded by 40 different state budget accounts.
“When you have this many entities, who has the authority, who is doing the decision making?” said Anna Colquitt, director of education policy for the Guinn Center, during a presentation of the report.
“Imagine a family navigating this incredibly complex set of systems,” Colquitt said. “For all of those services, you are navigating all of these different systems and figuring out how to do so with a lack of coordination among these agencies.”
Todd Butterworth, a senior research analyst for the Guinn Center, said inadequate coordination among the state’s many early childhood programs can lead to overwhelmed parents and missed opportunities for vulnerable children. Low-income families in Nevada are forced to navigate multiple systems for services like nutrition, child care, and support.
The report, “From Crowded to Coordinated,” found that only 16% of eligible four-year-olds participate in Title I or Nevada Ready programs, and 5% in Head Start. Less than 1% of eligible children are participating in the Maternal Infant and Early childhood home visiting programs, which helps low-income parents access nutrition and healthcare programs.
Even programs that provide basic childhood needs, like WIC, have low participation rates, despite high eligibility among Nevada’s children. Only about 25% of eligible children participate in WIC.
“There are a lot of factors that contribute to this lack of utilization of these programs and resources. But if we are going to have these programs, we want them to be used by those who need them,” Colquitt said.
The report emphasizes the importance of a centralized governance structure to ensure effective decision-making and coordination among the entities. The report also touched on the importance of aligning early childhood services with K-12 education and addressing nutrition and early intervention needs.
Due to the fragmented nature of Nevada’s early childhood program, low-income parents are navigating a very complex system on their own. Developing a single point of entry for early childhood services could reduce the complexity and streamline currently fragmented services for children and families, said Butterworth.
A centralized governance structure for early childhood programs could also enable more efficient, effective, and collaborative work among early childhood programs, according to the report.
Researchers recommend creating an interim office for early childhood systems under the governor’s office, improving data systems, and enhancing workforce development in child care and service provider fields. Strategies like universal applications and a “No Wrong Door” approach could also increase service utilization, say researchers.
Some states have already developed such models, including Colorado and Vermont, which have honed frameworks for early childhood governance. Colorado established a Department of Early Childhood in 2020, which absorbed programs under the state’s Department of Human Services and the Department of Education. Vermont has similarly centralized governance of early childhood programs whenever practical, giving agencies clearly defined roles, powers, and responsibilities.
The Guinn Center’s research also found that states with universal Pre-K were the most successful at increasing participation in other early childhood programs.
The Guinn Center report also advocates reforming funding mechanisms to improve compensation and professional development which would help reduce turnover and ensure high-quality staff. Colquitt says lawmakers are already looking to the research presented in the report when proposing new bills and reforms in education.
The report was commissioned by the Children’s Cabinet and funded by the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services Child Care and Development Program.