Who does BTWIC collaborate with?

• State Government
  • Mass. Department of Early Education and Care
  • Mass. Department of Transitional Assistance
  • Department of Labor/Developing Early Childhood Educators (Springfield)
  • Boston Alliance for Early Education
  • Associated Early Care and Education
  • Thrive in 5 Boston
  • Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children
  • Other advocates
    • Crittenton Women’s Union
    • United Way
  • R&Rs and CPCs
    • Child Care Choices of Boston
    • Community Teamwork (Worcester)
    • Pre-School Enrichment Program (Springfield)
    • Parenting Resource Center (Lexington)
    • Greater Lawrence Community Partnerships for Children
    • Action for Boston Community Development
    • Cape Cod Child Development Center
    • Lawrence YMCA
    • Edward Street Child Care (Worcester)
    • Little People’s College (New Bedford)
    • Community Team Work (Lowell)
  • Universities
    • Wheelock College
    • Wellesley College
  • Other Early Education and Care Advocates

What makes BTWIC unique from other early childhood education advocate programs?

• BTWIC focuses on low-income children and families, specifically those children between 0-3 years of age. BTWIC is community-based, research driven, and has a record of driving policy change throughout the commonwealth.
• BTWIC does not have any service programs- this is a conscious decision that allows the Initiative to focus entirely on policy reform.

What efforts on your part have contributed to your success with previous projects?

• BTWIC utilizes scholarly research and data collection and direct communication with early childhood educators and families with young children to get a complete and accurate view of the issues.
• BTWIC’s research and data collection is often supervised by Nancy Marshall, Ed.D., of the Wellesley Centers for Women. Nancy Marshall is a recognized expert on early education and care in the state and has produced numerous reports that are utilized by the Department of Early Education and Care.
• BTWIC releases high-quality public policy reports that are easily understood by those new to the field, yet are detailed enough to capture the attention of government officials and veterans of the field. The recommendations that are included in these reports are impactful and realistic suggestions for change that often rely on better utilizing existing programs and funding rather than requesting new funding.
• BTWIC works with the Department of Early Education and Care and other state departments to implement policy reforms.
• BTWIC continues the work on successful policy reform issues by measuring outcomes. This follow-up allows BTWIC to prove that its recommendations create positive, sustained change in the community.