Purpose

Each Local Governance Partner (LGP) is required by legislation to complete a Local Needs Assessment (LNA) to build a holistic understanding of the early childhood landscape in their community. The LNA is designed to identify local strengths, gaps, and needs across early childhood services and family well-being, using shared data and community input to create a clear picture of what families and providers need most. 

LNAs will be used for a variety of purposes, including to:

• Build a holistic picture of the early childhood landscape in the community, grounded in shared data and community input.

• Use findings to set local priorities and measurable goals for access, quality, and engagement, including priorities by age group, setting/service option, geography, and priority populations.

• Serve as the foundation for the Community Plan (drafted in Summer/Fall 2026) and support an ongoing cycle of updating priorities as local/regional needs change. Your Community Plan should capture what you will do as an LGP, and what you include in your Community Plan should be rooted in your LNA. 

• Inform Early Start CT planning and applications over the coming years (beginning with the procurement for services beginning in July 2027) by clarifying family and provider child care needs, while not determining awards to specific towns or providers.