Guiding Principles

The Commission is guided by the principles of integrity, honesty and mutual respect towards others and encourages inclusiveness, collaboration and innovation in building an optimal system of support for young children.  The Commission endeavors to support programs that are grounded in the best evidence of what works, demonstrate positive outcomes and maximize additional resources of financial support.    

In implementing the Guiding Principles, the Commission seeks to support strategies that are:

Integrated – providing services in a seamless manner where children and their family’s entire range of needs are addressed;

Comprehensive – providing a full array of services from prevention to intervention that are responsive to the individual needs of children and their families;

Culturally Responsive – reflecting the belief that membership in a group with a specific history and set of values and tradition is a source of strength;

Outcomes-Oriented – measuring performance by improved outcomes for children and families, not simply by the number and kind of services delivered;

Community-Based/Community Driven – ensuring that services are available and accessible in a variety of settings, using a combination of public, private, community and personal resources;

Family-Centered and Family Driven – meeting the needs of the whole family, not just individuals. Recognizing that families play a primary role in defining their strengths and needs and in organizing the assistance they receive. Honoring and supporting families as their child’s first teacher and strongest advocates;

Collaborative – promoting joint efforts between community partners to harness the strengths of communities and families, and pursue a shared vision of success;

Inclusively Governed – encouraging local decision-making in both the work of the Commission and its funded partners.  Ensuring that the diverse perspective of the people affected by a decision, especially groups currently and historically under-represented, are taken into account in making and shaping decisions; and

Utilizing Results Accountability – driving decision-making, with data and determining whether results are being achieved. Accountability for achieving desired results is shared by all members of a partnership, not just the agencies that are directly responsible for administering a particular program.