In 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) was awarded a Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) to strengthen the state’s early childhood system. MEF Associates, in partnership with Tufts Interdisciplinary Evaluation Research, led a comprehensive needs assessment for EEC to better understand how families and early educators experience early childhood programs and services across the state.
MEF’s team planned and implemented a wide range of activities for this project. Most notably, this project conducted a statewide family survey with approximately 1,500 families and journey mapping activities collected from 17 focus groups. In addition, the project included a workforce survey and interviews to assess EEC’s Staff Pilot program, which provides child care financial assistance to eligible early educators. Additionally, the team conducted case studies in five child care desert communities across Massachusetts to learn about strategies for improving supply.
Throughout, the project team used a participatory approach, centering the voices of those most impacted by B-5 programs. A key feature of this effort was the Needs Assessment and Evaluation Working (NEW) Group—an advisory body made up of caregivers and ECE professionals who met monthly to provide input and guidance on study activities. The team also provided regular briefings with EEC’s Commissioner and inter-agency advisory boards.