Early Start CT Local Governance Partners

Introducing LGPS

Local Governance Partners (LGPs) are partnerships between the state (OEC) and local communities. They’re the backbone of the Early Start CT system. They help connect OEC with towns and regions across Connecticut.

Every LGP will:

• Engage parents and families
• Support providers
• Coordinate early childhood resources

Early childhood stakeholders, including families and providers, are welcome to be a part of a local LGP.

If your town gets Early Start CT funding, it will have an LGP — either local or regional — to help coordinate early childhood services.

Our state-local partnership model will:

• Strengthen connections between families, programs, and local and state partners
• Improve coordination of early childhood resources
• Help everyone work together toward better outcomes for CT’s children

How LGPs support you

For families

• Offer ways to get involved in CT’s early childhood system through community events or the Parent Ambassador program
• Answer your questions and connect you with resources

For providers

• Connect you to OEC programs and quality improvement resources
• Help you access professional development and share best practices

For communities

• Bring stakeholders together
• Understand local needs
• Provide support for kids, families, and providers

Community Table and the LGP Intermediary

Each LGP will have a Community Table. It will include local parents, providers, school staff, health care workers, and other community leaders who work with young children.

Their job is to help make sure the LGP is meeting the community’s real needs.

OEC will also fund an LGP Intermediary — an organization that helps manage and support all LGPs. This group will be a bridge between local partners and the state. It will help make  sure services stay aligned with the Early Start CT vision.

Built on what’s already working

LGPs build on successful programs like:

• School Readiness Councils
• Local Early Childhood Collaboratives (LECCs)

These programs have already laid a strong foundation. Under Early Start CT, they’ll evolve into LGPs.

Communities will receive at least as much funding as they currently get from OEC for School Readiness and LECC work — and possibly more. We’re still working out the exact amount of funding.

This funding will support LGP activities, including community planning led by the Advisory Board.