Creating a State Strategic Plan for Integrating Services for Children using Multiple Qualitative Methods

To develop a statewide strategic plan for California’s State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (SECCS) project using a multi-method qualitative study design.

A qualitative study was conducted over 14 months with participants throughout California, including administrators, policy makers, service providers, parents, and statewide administrators. Data collection procedures included interviews, focus groups, a computer-based Delphi study, and meetings of a steering committee.

Results were compiled using a triangulation method to identify common themes across the 122 interviews, 24 focus groups with 910 participants, a Delphi study with 14 participants, and discussion with a 20-member interdisciplinary steering committee. The steering committee, comprised of experts in the fields of early education, health, mental health, parent education and family support, participated in the Delphi study. The common themes which led to the formulation of California’s SECCS strategic plan were providing a single point of entry into the system, providing a statewide referral network, integrating funding sources to remove silos of funding, and locating comprehensive services with multidisciplinary teams together.

California’s SECCS strategic plan addressed the needs of children from birth through 5 years of age in California and provided goals for how statewide systems can improve access to and quality of services for these children.