Milwaukee Succeeds & ECE Coalition Showcased in National Case Study

In April, the Children’s Funding Project - a national organization working to expand equitable opportunities for children and youth - released a new report titled “A Coalition of Caring: How Wisconsin Advocates are Building a System of Child Care for Infants and Toddlers.” Milwaukee Succeeds and the Milwaukee Early Childhood Education (ECE) Coalition were mentioned as key players in the ongoing efforts to stabilize the sector, bringing national attention to the two initiatives.

“Members of the Milwaukee ECE Coalition are working closely with the statewide Raising Wisconsin Coalition to strategize, share learning, and advocate for common interests,” says Daria Hall, Milwaukee Succeeds’ ECE director. “And we’re all benefitting from the expertise of national leaders at the Children’s Funding Project. This case study sheds light on the importance – and impact – of this kind of multi-level collaboration.”

The report centers on the work of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) and their Wisconsin Infant Toddler Policy Project (WITPP) initiative, now known as Raising Wisconsin. The case study hinges on the importance of cross-sector partnerships to advance state and local policies that support high-quality, affordable ECE across the state.

“The WITPP state collaborative team also includes advocates from Milwaukee Succeeds who successfully secured $7 million in City of Milwaukee American Rescue Plan funding to bolster child care and fund innovative programs to strengthen the early childhood education field in Milwaukee,” the report states. “WECA staff participated in Milwaukee’s ECE Coalition that helped secure the American Rescue Plan funding. The joint efforts between Milwaukee advocates and the WITPP state collaborative team demonstrate how local- and state-level advocacy networks can leverage their collective power to advance shared goals.”

The report goes on to conclude that while shifting policy and securing funding may take time, this work “progresses on the ground, organized through coalitions coordinating with providers, families and communities.” By working together, we can start creating change in our communities to ensure all children have equitable access to high-quality ECE.