GMMB Response to the Water Foundation
Contact: Traci Siegel, Traci.Siegel@gmmb.com
Uniting advocates to inform early childhood policy
The Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI), funded by the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation, has been a champion for infants, toddlers, and families for almost two decades. In 2017, PCI sought GMMB’s expertise for a new initiative to bring together national, state, and community partners with a focus on investing in programs and policies that support children from prenatal to age three.
GMMB’s overarching goal was to unite these diverse early childhood advocates around a shared narrative for change with core messaging that would help drive national momentum around this issue. The work included message research and narrative development, strategic communications counsel, grantee coordination and technical assistance, and brand and web development.
Working with research partners, GMMB tested messaging with engaged citizens and policymakers to find the most compelling narratives to best make the case for policy solutions. Based on the research findings, GMMB developed a core message framework intended to reach policymakers at all levels and across the aisle. The framework highlights the idea that when parents support and invest in the first three years, infants and toddlers become healthy children who are confident, empathetic and ready for school and life—and our communities, workforce, and economy become stronger and more productive.
Informed by the messaging research, GMMB also created a name for this initiative, the National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT) – designed to encompass the broad group of stakeholders and convey a sense of authority with the policymaker audience. Additionally, GMMB developed the brand as well as the website to help policymakers, their staff, and advocates at the national, state, and local levels take action to support infants, toddlers, and their families.
Today, GMMB continues to provide PCI and NCIT with ongoing communications support, grantee coordination and technical assistance.
