ELQN Highlights Community-Driven Innovation at 2026 NAFCC Conference

Among the conference’s many sessions, Martha and Christina were honored to be selected as presenters, giving them the opportunity to share Harris County’s ELQN pilot model with a national audience. Their presentation highlighted the progress and impact the initiative has made in less than three years, demonstrating how intentional, community-centered investments can strengthen the early childhood landscape for children, families, and providers alike.

At the heart of their presentation was ELQN’s commitment to supporting home-based child care providers—the trusted educators and caregivers who serve as a critical resource for working families. Martha and Christina shared how the project has created meaningful opportunities to engage and uplift these providers, including Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, whose work is often deeply rooted in relationships and community trust.

Home-based child care providers wear many hats. In addition to nurturing children’s learning and development, they are entrepreneurs and small business owners who manage daily operations, build relationships with families, and respond to the unique needs of their neighborhoods. ELQN recognizes these providers as essential partners in creating strong communities, and the pilot model has been designed to invest in their success through collaboration, support, and meaningful engagement.

Throughout the session, Martha and Christina shared not only the successes from ELQN’s work, but also the lessons learned over 2.5 years. They spoke about the importance of listening first, building authentic relationships, and creating programs that are responsive to the voices of the communities they serve. Rather than assuming what providers need, ELQN has worked to co-create solutions with them—ensuring that programming reflects real experiences, addresses real challenges, and builds on existing community strengths.

Attendees were invited to think about how these principles could translate into their own work. The presentation sparked conversations around community engagement, equitable program design, and the importance of creating systems that value lived experience alongside professional expertise. By sharing both accomplishments and challenges, Martha and Christina encouraged fellow early childhood leaders to embrace collaboration as a pathway toward sustainable change.

The opportunity to present at a national conference also allowed ELQN to showcase Harris County’s leadership in developing innovative approaches that center providers and families. Connecting with peers from across the country created space to exchange ideas, celebrate shared successes, and learn from the experiences of others working to strengthen family child care in their own communities.

To close their presentation, Martha and Christina shared a quote that captures the philosophy guiding ELQN’s work:

“Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution, but furthest from the resources and power.”
— Glenn E. Martin

This message served as a powerful reminder that lasting change begins by listening to and investing in the people who experience challenges firsthand. By elevating community voices and partnering with providers as leaders, ELQN continues to build a model that is responsive, equitable, and rooted in the strengths of the communities it serves.

As ELQN prepares to close out their work in the fall of 2026, opportunities like the NAFCC Conference reinforce the importance of sharing promising practices, learning alongside colleagues from across the country, and advancing solutions that empower providers, strengthen families, and improve outcomes for children. The experience in Chicago was not only an opportunity to celebrate the progress made thus far but also an inspiration for the work that lies ahead.