About Us
About the Early Childhood Education Collaborative
Quality Childcare = Thriving Families & Thriving Economy
The Early Childhood Education Collaborative (ECEC) is a dedicated partnership committed to advancing high-quality, accessible, and affordable childcare across the Lehigh Valley. Reliable childcare is essential for workforce participation, enabling families to thrive and supporting the local economy. By working together, we aim to build a future where every child has access to the care and education they need to succeed.
Our Vision
To create a thriving community and robust local economy in the Lehigh Valley by ensuring high-quality, accessible, and affordable childcare for all families. ECEC envisions childcare as a cornerstone of economic vitality, empowering families to pursue meaningful employment and career advancement.
Our Mission
We strives to create sustainable solutions that enhance economic stability and support families to contribute fully to the workforce. The collaborative works towards this mission through:
· supporting early childhood providers;
· creating solutions to support the workforce of early childhood educators;
· strengthening childcare infrastructure for quality delivery of services for children and families;
· and fostering community awareness and action.
Through these efforts, ECEC aims to increase community investment in early childhood and elevate the role of childcare as a cornerstone of economic vitality.
Our Objectives
We are focused on four key objectives to drive meaningful change in early childhood education:
1. Children & Families
- Develop affordable childcare options for all families.
- Provide resources and support to ensure quality care and address accessibility gaps.
2. Workforce Development
- Strengthen pathways into early childhood education.
- Improve workplace conditions for educators.
- Develop robust retention strategies for early childhood workforce members.
3. Provider Capacity-Building
- Support childcare providers of all types.
- Facilitate connections and build partnerships to enhance resources and capacity.
4. Community Engagement
- Mobilize the community around early childhood education issues.
- Raise awareness of the importance of early learning.
- Advocate for supportive policies and resources that benefit children, families, and providers.
Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.
John Dewey