What is it?
The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Health Integration Prenatal-to-Three Project (ECCS HIP-3), is a project funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Human Resources and Services Administration. The purpose of this program is to build integrated maternal and early childhood systems of care that are equitable, sustainable, comprehensive, and inclusive of the health system, and that promote early developmental health and family well-being and increase family-centered access to care and engagement of the prenatal-to-3 (P–3) population. The goals for the ECCS program are to: 1) Increase state2-level infrastructure and capacity to develop and/or strengthen statewide maternal and early childhood systems of care; 2) Increase coordination and alignment between maternal and child health (MCH) and other statewide systems that impact young children and families to advance a common vision for early developmental health and family well-being; 3) Increase the capacity of health systems to deliver and effectively connect families to a continuum of services that promote early developmental health and family well-being, beginning prenatally; 4) Identify and implement policy and financing strategies that support the funding and sustainability of multigenerational, preventive services and systems for the P–3 population; and 5) Increase state-level capacity to advance equitable and improved access to services for underserved P–3 populations.
What Change Matrix does
Change Matrix (CM) provides technical assistance, subject matter expertise, thought partnership, and leadership for the Early Childhood Systems Technical Assistance and Coordination Center (ECS-TACC). Funded to support the 20 ECCS HIP-3 awardees, ECS-TACC helps implement activities aligned with the program’s core goals and grounded in current academic research and best practices. The center is led by Altarum in partnership with James Bell Associates, the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, the Morehouse School of Medicine Center for Maternal Health Equity, and Change Matrix. ECS-TACC’s leadership team—comprising experts from MCHB and the partner organizations—guides and informs the center’s work. CM contributes expertise in areas such as family and community engagement, strategic planning, health equity, systems change, systems leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and sustainability.
Why we love this work
Supporting early childhood, equity, and systems building is fundamental to our mission of strengthening systems and communities that improve lives. Early childhood is a critical period that shapes lifelong outcomes, and investing in it creates a ripple effect across health, education, and economic well-being. Equity ensures that all children and families—regardless of race, background, or circumstance—have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. Systems change and systems building enables sustainable, community-driven solutions by transforming the structures and policies that perpetuate disparities. By focusing on these interconnected areas, we help build resilient, inclusive communities where all children and families can reach their full potential.
