Such technical assistance may be provided or funded by a state agency, employers, or other private-sector partners. The following states represent a sample of statewide system-building partnerships. Each county receives funds to promote collaboration among Head Start, pre-kindergarten, and private child care providers. The Indiana Child Care Symposium Initiative supports local teams of business, community, and child care leaders who come together to address local child care issues. The state facilitates technical assistance, such as linking business mentors to local teams.
Most teams conduct needs assessments to determine the best way to define their project goals.
The Project works with a wide range of community partners, including businesses and foundations, universities and community colleges, hospitals, and school districts to develop and disseminate training curricula, provide education, and offer support services to child care providers throughout the state. The state-level partnership provides technical assistance to local partnerships on program development, administration, organizational development, communication, fiscal management, technology, contract management, and fundraising. State revenues fund local partnerships, and state government agencies assist local partnerships in accessing federal funds that are available to support their efforts. The Texas Work and Family Clearinghouse, created by the state legislature to help attract and maintain a diverse workforce, acts as an information broker on work and family issues for employers and professional consultants working in the field. It also helps create employer coalitions that work with local organizations to assess community needs and develop strategies for meeting those needs.