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Summary of "Advancing Investments in the Early Years"

Core Content

This report analyzes the current landscape of early childhood investments in New Hampshire and identifies opportunities for strategic expansion of evidence-based programs to improve child development outcomes and long-term societal returns. It highlights the disparities in access to early childhood services across different communities, particularly those with higher rates of poverty and other risk factors, and emphasizes the need for targeted investments in home visiting and preschool programs.

Key Findings

• Variation in Risk Factors: New Hampshire's communities show significant variation in the risks and stressors faced by young children and their families, with some areas experiencing high poverty and disadvantage, while others are relatively well-off.
• Home Visiting Programs: These programs serve up to 1,100 families annually, but only about 7% of eligible families are reached, indicating a substantial gap in service availability.
• Preschool Programs: Approximately 4,000 children are served by district preschool programs, with most enrolled in part-day or part-week programs. Teacher qualifications and class sizes are generally consistent with high-quality standards.
• Service Access and Need Mismatch: Access to preschool programs is not aligned with communities where children are most at risk of poor academic performance, particularly those with high poverty rates.
• Economic Returns: Evidence-based programs such as home visiting and high-quality preschool have shown strong economic returns. For example, the Nurse-Family Partnership model generates a social return of $4 to $6 for every dollar invested, while preschool can yield $2 in benefits for every dollar invested.
• Federal Funding Limitations: Federal programs like Early Head Start, Head Start, and MIECHV are underfunded and do not cover all eligible children, necessitating state and local investments to expand access.

Study Objectives

The study aims to:

• Examine geographic variation in the need for early childhood investments.
• Assess current investments and their alignment with community needs.
• Identify opportunities for further strategic investment in home visiting and preschool programs.
• Provide recommendations for a more integrated and effective early childhood system in New Hampshire.

Study Approach

Two main strategies were used:

1. Statewide Landscape Analysis: Utilized a range of local-level indicators to assess the need for early childhood programs and the availability of current resources.
2. In-Depth Assessment of Focal Communities: Four communities—Claremont, Manchester, Nashua, and Coös County—were selected for detailed analysis, focusing on their early childhood programs, infrastructure, and strategies.

Local-Level Indicators

Indicators were categorized into three groups:

• Indicators of Need: Include measures such as median family income, child poverty rate, percentage of births to unmarried women, and rates of child abuse and neglect.
• Indicators of Current Early Childhood Resources: Cover data on home visiting program participation, preschool enrollment, and availability of licensed child care providers.
• Indicators of Infrastructure: Reflect the availability of educational programs and workforce development opportunities.

Focal Communities

The four focal communities are:

• Claremont: A small town in Sullivan County with a site for MIECHV and a state CFSS contract.
• Manchester: The largest and poorest city in New Hampshire, also a Project LAUNCH site.
• Nashua: A city near the southern border, benefiting from its proximity to Boston.
• Coös County: The largest and poorest county in New Hampshire, with a focus on the White Mountains Regional School District.

Each community has an early childhood coalition or partnership and offers varying levels of service and support.

Landscape of Need

• Birth Outcomes: Significant variation exists in the number of births to unmarried women and women with low incomes.
• Family Demographics: Communities show differing rates of children in single-parent families and non-English-speaking households.
• Economic Status: Median family incomes and child poverty rates vary widely, with some districts experiencing income levels as low as 40% of the state median.
• Education Performance: School proficiency rates and graduation rates differ significantly, with some districts showing as low as 17% proficiency in reading and 8% in math at grade 3.

Strategic Investment Recommendations

To maximize returns, the report recommends:

1. Expanding Access: Focus on communities with the greatest need but currently low service coverage.
2. Integrated Systems: Develop a more effective and coordinated early childhood system from birth to age 5 or 8.
3. Data and Infrastructure: Build robust data systems and infrastructure at the state level to support informed decision-making and ensure quality in early childhood programs.

Conclusion

New Hampshire has a strong foundation in early childhood programs, but significant gaps remain in service availability and targeting. Strategic investments in evidence-based home visiting and preschool programs, particularly in high-risk areas, can yield substantial economic and social returns. The report provides a roadmap for policymakers and stakeholders to enhance early childhood support through targeted funding, improved coordination, and stronger data systems.