Redefining how universities, government, communities, and the private sector work together to make a sustainable social impact in communities.

Our Social Impact Labs are gather researchers, practitioners, governments, businesses and community members together to dream big to reimagine how to improve the health and well-being of children.


 

Photograph of a young girl painting in an art class

About the Early Childhood Ecosystems Transformation Accelerator

At its core, the early childhood ecosystem transformation accelerator project is about helping cities first understand their early childhood ecosystem and then second, provide them the tools and coaching to help them improve early childhood and family outcomes. Cities are laboratories of innovation and harnessing the unique value and assets is the only way to help families thrive. By the end of this project, cities are provided the tools and resources necessary for residents and community leaders to deepen their understanding of their Early Childhood Ecosystem and then harnesses their unique community capacity to effect change.

This work provides a springboard for community-led and city-engaged projects, built on a shared vision about what can be undertaken over the next 3-5 years to help a city see their children achieve their fullest potential. This work also provides the foundation for a community-level Innovation Lab, where ideas for improving early childhood outcomes are tested and shared with other global cities to spread success faster.

This project is informed by the Nurturing Care Framework’s key action areas of (1) leading and investing, (2) focusing on families and communities, (3) strengthening services, (4) monitoring progress, and (5) scaling and innovating. The processes is also based in the Nurturing Care’s evidence-based international standards for early childhood systems including the areas of (1) nurturing care, (2) early learning, (3) good health, (4), nutrition, and (5) safety and security.

Cities and communities who engage in this work walk away with:

  • The development of a community-based strategic framework to improve early childhood outcomes across their early childhood ecosystem.
  • The foundation of a backbone or organizing entity is established to help sustain this work in the future.
  • Increased capacity to carry out and improve early childhood outcomes.
  • The identification of private and public funds to sustain this work.

Our Team

Portrait of Social Impact Lab Director, Efren Aguilar

Efren Aguilar

Director, Early Childhood Ecosystem Transformation Accelerator Social Impact Lab
Portrait of Life Course Translational Research Network Program Manager, Chandler Beck, MPH, standing on the beach in California with blue skies, palm trees in the background, and Chandler in the foreground.

Chandler Beck, MPH

Program Manager, Life Course Translational Research Network and Social Impact Labs