RAPID and Early Childhood Alliance Onondaga partnership

 

Community served

Early Childhood Alliance Onondaga works on behalf of families with young children in the city of Syracuse, the county of Onondaga, and the state of New York. The organization launched in 2015 with the goal of ensuring that all children in Onondaga County are healthy, thriving, and ready to succeed in school and in life.

Priorities and goals

Composed of a diverse cross-section of community stakeholders and leaders, Early Child Alliance Onondaga is committed to solutions that are evidenced-based and grounded in family and community voice, to strengthen the system of services and supports for children and families in Onondaga county, promote healthy families and vibrant communities, and advance optimal early child development.

Engaging families

Early Child Alliance Onondaga centers parent voices to co-design local strategies that support parents, and aims to deepen their understanding and improve their ability to reach more of these important voices. 

In 2024, the RAPID Survey Project and Early Childhood Alliance Onondaga began partnering in an effort to build more and creative feedback loops into the local early childhood system and its array of programs, and to meet a program goal of doing regular community-wide surveys. The project aims to better understand the lived experiences, needs, challenges, and ideas of parents.

Data and insights

The surveys enable a broader, community-wide approach to understanding the needs and concerns of families in Onondaga County. Hearing from parents is crucial for identifying key priorities and advocating for effective policy changes from local and state elected officials.