CNMI lone territory chosen for Impact Project

The CNMI was chosen to participate in the Impact Project, which would support U.S. states and territories in developing and implementing early childhood projects. The CNMI was the lone U.S. territory selected to join eight other states for the program.

The Impact Project is open to all 50 states and five territories with recipients selected through a competitive application process. All applicants have “diverse contexts, geographies, and points” in advancing their respective quality childcare programs.

The CNMI joins the states of Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, and South Carolina in the program, which is part of the new Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System.

The administration of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said the Child Care and Development Fund—one of the nine divisions under the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs—would be the recipient of the Impact Project, which offers intensive consultation and assistance from well-regarded experts.

The experts offer their knowledge on extensive and state-based early childhood development programs free of charge in an 18-month of four-year period.

“As a result of the Impact Project, state early childhood systems leaders should be able to successfully strengthen systems building for effective high-impact services that can improve outcomes for children and families,” said Torres in a statement.

“The purpose of the Impact Project is to assist states as they develop and expand their capacity for planning, investing in, and implementing quality early childhood systems, policies, and practices.”

The CCDF “assists low-income families in accessing quality childcare for children while parent’s work or participate in education or job training.”

The CNMI, under the Impact Project, aims to focus in creating comprehensive strategies in developing its workforce and increase supplies for infant and toddler care.

The Child Care State Capacity Building Center, which launched the Impact Project in March of this year, will work with officials of states and territories in creating new systems and programs to improve childcare within families.

According to childcareta.acf.hhs.gov, the SCBC “focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of programs implemented under the Child Care and Development Fund, improving the quality and supply of infant-toddler services, and advancing the development of early childhood systems.”