Office of Early Childhood webinar walks providers through writing SMART goals for Elevate program plans

The Office of Early Childhood hosted a technical‑assistance webinar explaining how child‑care providers should write SMART goals for Elevate program plans (EPPs). Dina Miranda, one of the OEC service navigators, defined SMART as specific, measurable, obtainable, relevant and time‑bound and walked attendees through practical do's and don'ts for goal writing.

"SMART is an acronym that you can use to guide your goal setting," Miranda said, stressing that a SMART goal should name who will do what, by when, and where. The presenters emphasized that every EPP must include at least one SMART goal to be considered for approval and that plans may include up to three if each is realistic and achievable.

The webinar distinguished the SMART goal statement from action steps: presenters said the goal states the intended outcome and timeline, while action steps list the discrete tasks that will get a program to that outcome and show how it will be maintained. Presenters advised keeping action steps brief, specific and measurable.

Speakers offered multiple examples to illustrate the format. Miranda gave a family child‑care example: "I will create a resource bulletin board within the next 2 months to be updated quarterly, where I will share resources on a monthly and or quarterly basis that are relevant for families..." She explained how that wording makes the goal specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time‑bound.

Diana Reyes presented business‑management examples, including a goal aimed at enrollment: "We aim to see a 10% increase in enrollment within 6 to 12 months of implementing these efforts," using targeted social media posts and community events as action steps. Other examples addressed curriculum alignment, such as a center committing to review Connecticut ELDs on a monthly basis and to update lesson plans accordingly.

Presenters pointed attendees to Elevate website resources and QR codes shared in the slides, and listed regional support contacts. Pamela Lavasser and the team provided email addresses and phone numbers for four service navigators and described local partner contacts for staff family child‑care networks, including Team Incorporated, the city of Hartford, and Connecticut AEYC. The webinar also included links to 2‑1‑1 childcare and a membership interest form for local networks.

The presenters closed by encouraging providers to choose a single, clear SMART goal that shows an ongoing benefit to program quality and to align action steps to measurable milestones. The OEC service navigators offered follow‑up help for programs drafting EPPs.