|
ICS Extends Its Nationwide Reach
In Washington DC!
| |
|
Representatives from ICS traveled to Washington DC to promote the strengths of Pay for Success, an innovative financing model that helps children and communities thrive. On this national stage, we are proud to provide insights of the work ICS facilitates across the country.
First, ICS was invited to present at the 2025 National Home Visiting Summit, sharing our successes in collaborating with partners to initiate positive impact for young children.
Our team also embarked on several Capitol visits to promote the SIPPRA work taking place, visiting the offices of Senator Tim Scott, Congressman Neal Dunn, and Representative Aaron Bean.
At the National Home Visiting Summit, ICS presented alongside our partners BirthMatters and Family Connects to highlight the success of the Hello Family Initiative, using evidence-based models and data to improve outcomes for young children and their families. ICS provided insights into leveraging research and data for decision-making, applying the Pay for Success model, and optimizing funding for impactful, equitable community results. Attendees included early childhood development, public health, and social service professionals, as well as policymakers.
Kaitlin Watts (ICS Director of Innovative Financing), Amber Pendergraph-Leak (Executive Director of Birth Matters), and Kimberly J. Friedman (Chief Program Officer of Family Connects International), emphasized how a collaborative approach can drive impactful changes, and shared how communities can replicate the excellent results of the collaborative model of Hello Family by incorporating certain core approaches.
[Pictured above: Jordan Wildermuth, Senior Policy Director for FCI, and Kaitlin Watts]
[Pictured below, left to right: Amber Pendergraph-Leak, Kimberly Friedman, and Katilin Watts]
| |
Early Childhood Education Justice | |
|
The Southern Early Childhood Education Justice (SECEJ) Network recently held a convening in New Orleans, LA, attended by ICS’s Deborah DePaoli and Citlaly Rojo. The SECEJ is committed to addressing inequities and advancing equity through its regional advocacy and policy objectives. Echoing a core ICS value of equity, SECEJ strives to expand early learning opportunities across the South by building upon the collective movement for racial justice and equity.
The objectives were to:
- Learn about each other’s work.
- Build relationships with existing and new partners.
- Pursue racial equity.
- Engage in professional learning.
- Initiate a regional ECE advocacy agenda.
- Plan for state work.
- Imagine an ideal future state of early care and education.
ICS is pleased to be a part of this initiative and celebrates the work of the SECEJ.
[Pictured above from left to right: Maria Spinetti of the Vanderbilt University Prenatal to Three Policy Impact Center, Deborah DePaoli, ICS Palmetto Engagement & Policy Director, and Citlaly Rojo, ICS Legislative Associate]
| |
|
We Are In This Together!
Annual Child Care Advocates Meeting
| |
|
The Annual Child Care Advocates' Meeting is a retreat for national, state, and grassroots advocates to come together to regroup, share, learn, and prepare for the year ahead. As part of the 37th meeting in Virginia, ICS joined a collective discussion and unified view that while there is a lot of uncertainty about what is to come, we know that whatever lies ahead, we will be facing together.
This is an opportunity to celebrate wins, examine ongoing and emerging challenges, and discuss strategies for moving toward a comprehensive system that offers equitable access to high-quality, affordable childcare and early learning. ICS certainly has lots of wins, but we are excited to see what positive changes are in store for all of us across the county!
| |
[Pictured above from left to right: Deborah DePaoli, ICS Palmetto Engagement & Policy Director and Jessica Sharp of the Program for Infant and Toddler Care] | |
|
American Academy of Pediatrics:
Community Access to Child Health Conference
| |
|
ICS was proud to attend the 2025 CATCH (Community Access to Child Health) Conference, the latest statewide event hosted by the South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), an organization dedicated to the principle of a meaningful and healthy life for every child. We are grateful for the opportunity to be a voice not only in South Carolina communities, but in many states, and we look forward to our other upcoming events and collaborations across the nation in the coming months as well!
[Pictured above from left to right: Senior Fellow Linda Brees, ICS Board Member Dr. Bob Saul, and CEO Jamie Moon at the annual CATCH (Community Access To Child Health) conference held in Charleston SC]
| |
Being a Voice for Young Children | |
|
Megan Carolan, ICS VP of Policy Research, recently presented to Greenville Women Giving at their invitation on the child care crisis in their community. The room had a tremendous energy and engagement. Presenting is second nature to Megan.
"It's no surprise to anyone who knew me as a child blessed with 'the gift of gab'. I love an audience. I love bringing my work to life. I love a question that stumps me."
As ICS continues to grow and collaborate, even more voices across the nation are speaking and acting in support of young children and the resources needed in their own communities. Together with ICS partners, we will press on to get people thinking more holisticly and broader than they have before, leaving this world a little better for the young kids ICS advocates for every day.
As Vaughn CroweTipton, Chaplain at Furman University, aptly put it:
Give us "hearts large enough to match the breadth and diversity of our local and world communities. Give us souls strong enough to lead with vision and wisdom that go beyond lines, walls, and agenda."
[Pictured: Megan Carolan addressing the crowd]
| |
Paging Uncle Joey: The Need for Broader Communities of Care | |
Don't miss out on Keller Anne Ruble's blog post about the critical need for community care for children. As an ICS Consultant, her valuable contributions in this arena allow her a unique perspective on this important subject. Having worn many hats in the early childhood world, she spent several years in the classroom, and has since served in multiple early education leadership capacities. | |
Spring 2025 Upstate Diversity Leaders Initiative Cohort | |
|
ICS is thrilled to announce that Deborah DePaoli, ICS Palmetto Engagement and Policy Director, is among the 2025 Class of the Upstate Diversity Leaders Initiative program!
This program encompasses discussions and learning about how to address issues such as discrimination, diversity, community frameworks, among many other relevant topics involving impact on young children. The Riley Institute at Furman University choose 40 leaders to participate in its spring 2025 Upstate Diversity Leaders Initiative program, the organization announced in February.
| |
|
Keep Thursday, February 27 and Friday, February 28, 2026 on your calendar for the Desmond P. Kelly Nurturing Developing Minds (NDM) Conference, hosted by the Institute for Child Success (ICS) and SC LEND (Thurs) and the IACH Community Health Forum hosted by the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health (Fri). Both events will be held at the Younts Conference Center at Furman University. Attendees are welcome to join for either day or receive a discounted registration to attend for both.
On Thursday, ICS hosts keynote speaker Dr. Joseph L. Wright, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, the first Chief Health Equity Officer of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as well as Senior Vice President of Equity Initiatives at AAP.
On Friday, IACH will host two morning keynotes: Brian C. Castrucci, Dr Ph, President & Chief Executive Officer of the de Beaumont Foundation, and Kirsten Naomi Chapman, M.Ed., EdD, Executive Director of REEM GVL & Vice President of Systems Change & Innovation, United Way of Greenville County.
Click the button above to register and to view the full event agenda, keynote speaker details, and Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit information.
| |
|
ICS works on behalf of children from prenatal to age 8.
You can support our work by helping to
fund our research and advocacy.
| | | | |
