Strategic Plan | 2022-2025

The F8M Board of Directors approved the organization’s first strategic plan on March 10, 2022. Stakeholders representing all sectors of our community provided input for the plan, which spans 2022-2025. It aligns with the Shelby County Early Childhood Education Plan and aims to continuously improve programming, systems, and support for young children ages 0-8 by focusing on quality, access, alignment, advocacy, and awareness.

Guiding Principles

First 8 Memphis will:

  • Center child development and infant and early childhood mental health, and culturally-informed, equitable best practices in the implementation and continuous improvement of the organization’s strategic plan

  • Build authentic and transparent relationships with key stakeholders, including but not limited to, families, early childhood care and education providers, schools, community organizations, and policy leaders

  • Leverage the strengths of the community and partners to achieve common goals, and stay nimble and flexible as a start-up, learning organization

Goals & Key Levers

GOAL: Support and Continue to Build the Early Care and Education System

 

Key Levers:

 

QUALITY - Support and Enable Providers to Deliver High-Quality Care and Education to Young Children and their Families in Memphis and Shelby County

 

ACCESS - Reduce or Eliminate Barriers Young Children and their Families Face in Accessing High-Quality Care and Education in Memphis and Shelby County

 

ALIGNMENT - Create a Consistently Positive Care and Education Experience for Young Children and their Families in Memphis and Shelby County

 

ADVOCACY & AWARENESS - Advocate for a High-Quality, Equitable Early Care and Education System on Behalf of Young Children and their Families in Memphis and Shelby County

GOAL: Build Internal Systems and Capacity

 

Key Levers:

 

ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSE - Update and Articulate Clear Organizational Purpose and Goals

 

INFRASTRUCTURE - Build and Sustain Internal Infrastructure to Support F8M’s Strategic Plan

 

TRAINING & CAPACITY - Build Staff and Board Capacity to Support F8M’s Strategic Plan

Outcomes

Our work will:

  • Leverage expertise in early childhood program policy and research across partners to inform efforts across Memphis and Shelby County

  • Strengthen early care and education organizations for positive child and family outcomes

  • Give parents and communities tools to help their young children thrive in their critical early years