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The Alliance Effect

When you combine connections to peers, access to experts, funding, rapid response, and real-time conversation, you get a unique kind of support for state advocates that makes unexpected gains possible. We call this The Alliance Effect.

Take a few moments to explore some of the connections that drive our powerful network (drag and hold the dots to explore the connections):

Producing national research is important work. Funding state advocates is important work. Convening people working on similar policies is important, and so is providing right-time technical assistance. Lots of organizations provide this crucial support across the country, and state advocates rely on many of them. 

But no one connects all of these in as hands-on, flexible, and personalized a way as the Alliance. State allies tell us it’s a game-changing way to get support and that it helps them maximize their limited resources and manpower for maximum impact for kids.

Take a closer look at the Alliance Effect in action:

Serv and Return: Rising Liability Insurance Costs and Licensing Data Concerns

Alliance allies often request information from peers in the network through the Listserv. Serv and Return” is an occasional series that spotlights a recent exchange on the Alliance listserv—a widely used channel for the network to provide rapid-response resources and support to one another. 
Allies responded to a listserv request from an advocate in Illinois about rising liability insurance costs and licensing data concerns. This question prompted many responses and perspectives, showcasing the unique expertise within the Alliance Network.

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April 2, 2026

Serv and Return: Network Provides Insights on Policies and Investments Linking Housing and Child Care

Alliance allies often request information from peers in the network through the Listserv. Recently, our advocates in Maine recently asked their peers for state examples where “there has been policy or investment initiatives made that bring together housing and child care.” This question prompted many responses and perspectives, showcasing the unique expertise within the Alliance Network.

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April 2, 2026

Serv and Return: Network Shares State CCDF Reimbursement Rates

Alliance allies often request information from peers in the network using the Listserv. Recently, our allies in a southern state requested updated summaries of child care reimbursement rates at the state level, so that they can compare other states’ rates to theirs, should their state implement proposed rate changes.

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December 2, 2025

Tennessee Advocates Leverage Alliance Network to Launch Powerful New Dashboard

Alliance for Early Success convenings, connections, and community fueled the Bright Start Tennessee Dashboard–Tennessee advocates’ new, highly tailored early childhood data portal. Now that each of the Bright Start regions has access to the regularly updated dashboard, they’re better equipped to measure progress and champion state policies with regional and local data.

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February 10, 2025

State Advocates Learn Together in New Collaboration Community on Elevating Parent Voice in Advocacy

In partnership with the Alliance for Early Success, ZERO TO THREE has launched a collaboration community to support Alliance state grantees in elevating family voice and cultivating their leadership in advocacy and policy. A key focus of the community is exploring strategies to shift organizational culture and systems in ways that support meaningful partnership with families from the beginning of policy agenda development through the policy implementation process.

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February 5, 2025

Read more Alliance Effect stories >>

What We Do:

“The Alliance’s support makes me and Maryland Family Network stronger, smarter, and more effective in ways that transcend financial resources, technical assistance, and collegial guidance — as deeply valued as those things are. There’s a ‘whole’ to the Alliance that’s much greater than the sum of its parts. I’m proud that I can say that from experience and excited to see all that we have yet to achieve.”

      Clinton Macsherry
      Maryland Family Network

“Never before in Texas has new state money for child care made into one of the chambers’ major budget bills, until this week. Although there are many factors to making this happen, one of the most important was pointing to the progress our friends have made across the country, including Florida, North Dakota, Missouri, Louisiana, and Alabama. I am grateful to all of the Alliance Family for your role in potentially helping thousands more Texas families get affordable access to high-quality child care. “

     David Feigen
     Texans Care for Children