We Know What Works

The science is clear that our earliest experiences have lifelong consequences for our health and behaviors. Scientists. doctors. economists, teachers, and parents all agree — investing in the early years is our best hope for positive outcomes later in life.

Parents who have sufficient financial resources, social connections, limited stress, and good physical and mental health are in a better position to meet the substantial challenges that parenting brings, than are parents who struggle to make ends meet, feel isolated or overwhelmed, or have poor mental health.

Polices and programs that encourage and support strong healthy beginnings for children and parents are essential to the overall health of our community. Thanks to the dedicated B3 leadership team, we have developed four strategic goals and objectives aimed at improving outcomes for both parents and children. These will guide our work during the five years of this project.

Strategic Goals & Objectives:

AREA 1: GOOD HEALTH/HEALTHY BEGINNINGS—Expand access to high-quality prenatal and early childhood care and services to support health and development, especially for low-income and at-risk families.

1.1 Increase the number of expectant families and those with infants and toddlers receiving high-quality health and health-related services.

1.2 Increase the number of families with infants and toddlers with developmental delays/disabilities receiving services from the Maryland Infant and Toddlers Program (MITP).

1.3 Increase the number of expectant families and those with infants and toddlers with special needs receiving high-quality care coordination and family peer navigation services.

1.4 Increase the number of expectant families and those with infants and toddlers receiving high-quality mental and behavioral health services.

AREA 2: STRONG FAMILIES/FAMILY SUPPORT—Increase access by families of young children to programs that value strong and positive relationships within families and ensure that parents, infants, and toddlers receive a comprehensive set of services that promote maternal health, infant and toddler development, and family well-being. 

2.1 Increase the number of families with infants and toddlers receiving services at place-based program sites that offer two-generation programs and services.

2.2 Increase the number of expectant families and those with young children receiving evidence-based home-based services.

2.3 Increase the number of expectant families and those with young children participating in parenting education and support programs.

AREA 3: POSITIVE EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES/EARLY CARE AND LEARNING—Increase access to high-quality, affordable infant-toddler child care and early learning experiences for low-income and other at-risk families.

3.1 Increase the number infants and toddlers participating in high-quality child care settings.

3.2 Increase the number of infants and toddlers participating in Early Head Start (EHS).

3.3 Increase the number of teen parents with infants and toddlers receiving school-based child care.

AREA 4: SYSTEMS & INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT—Focus on systems and infrastructure development to ensure a sustainable PN-3 continuum of care.

4.1 Develop sustainable governance of the PN-3 initiative.

4.2 Establish a sustainable PN-3 infrastructure in Maryland

4.3 Develop widely shared vision and promote public awareness; build public will to support enhanced funding for PN-3 services.

4.4 Improve data systems in the state of Maryland to better understand the PN-3 population and program outcomes.

4.5 Increase parent engagement and develop a cadre of parent leaders.

4.6 Enhance workforce and professional development across Maryland for educators and providers who work with children prenatal up to age three.

4.7 Embed principles and practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across Maryland.

4.8 Embed practicing strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches across Maryland.

4.9 Coordinate advocacy efforts for the PN-3 population across organizations and sectors.

4.10 Promote universal screening of pregnant women through increased utilization of the Prenatal Risk Assessment (PRA) across Maryland.