State and Territorial Act Early/COVID-19 Response Teams Receive a Second Year of Funding to Support Early Childhood Systems

October 6, 2021

State and Territorial Act Early/COVID-19 Response Teams have been awarded a second year of funding for the grant opportunity for Support for Early Childhood State Systems through the Act Early Network. This second year, beginning 9/1/2021, has been made possible by an infusion of funding to support an Act Early Network-wide response to COVID-19 through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD).

42 Act Early Ambassador-led/co-led Response Teams will receive $94,000 each to provide support to families with young children across the country by bolstering collaboration among early childhood programs and systems to improve the four “steps” of early identification of developmental delays and disabilities (parent-engaged developmental monitoring using LTSAE, developmental screening, referral for early intervention services, and receipt of early intervention services), including autism, and working to improve resiliency skills and behaviors among families. Response Teams will also use this additional year of funding to continue to develop, implement, and evaluate strategies to improve the four “steps” of early identification of developmental delays and disabilities (using “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” (LTSAE)/early identification messaging, materials, resources, and tools) within early childhood programs and systems, support families in transitioning from step to step to reduce loss to follow up and support family, child, provider, and/or community resiliency especially within communities disproportionally affected by COVID-19 and/or COVID-19 mitigation efforts.