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DCYF seeks HVAC input on 2027 strategic plan; committee emphasizes workforce, funding and outcomes
Summary
At a June 15 HVAC meeting, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families sought input on outcomes for its 20279-2031 strategic plan. Members urged stronger workforce supports, multi-year contracts, data reductions and funding strategies that include Medicaid and philanthropy.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families asked the Home Visiting Advisory Committee on June 15 for outcome-focused feedback to shape DCYF27s 20279-2031 strategic plan.
Emily Morgan, DCYF deputy director of community engagement, told the committee the agency has completed staff listening sessions and over 50 in-person meetings around the state and is now collecting advisory-group input to help draft the plan. She said executive leadership plans to assemble a first draft around Sept. 1, 2026, with another round of advisory feedback in fall 2026 before the plan goes live in January 2027.
Committee members said the plan should reflect the realities facing home-visiting programs: unstable state budgets, rising family need and workforce strain. "A strategic plan helps us address critical issues like child well-being, education access, youth homelessness, and family support," Morgan said, describing the role outcomes play in measuring success. Members urged DCYF to include workforce outcomes such as staff retention, compensation that reflects the true cost of services, multi-year contracts and supports for reflective consultation to address vicarious trauma.
Members also recommended reducing administrative burden and duplicate data collection, expanding language access and reimbursement for mileage, and pursuing diversified funding streams including philanthropy and Medicaid. Several participants urged metrics beyond enrollment, noting programs should capture measures that tell a fuller story of family well-being.
The committee discussed process options for the feedback loop: return visits with a draft plan plus group discussion or sharing a written draft with a survey for additional input. Morgan said DCYF will report back in the fall on what it used, what it did not use and why.
The committee will meet in July for a longer session to review a DCYF decision package tied to the home-visiting account and to develop focused SFY27 priorities. Members were asked to prepare for possible short-term working groups on topics such as supporting families with complex needs and membership recruitment.
Next steps: DCYF will collect breakout-room input via Mentimeter for one week, synthesize themes, and return to advisory groups in the fall with a draft plan and an explanation of how input was used.
