Joint initiative of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Government of Israel and Ashalim (an Israeli government, JDC, and UJA-Federation of New York partnership). These bodies have joined together to promote equal opportunity and achievement for Israeli Arab children under the age of six. The goals are to minimize the risk factors that threaten their development; to generate systemic change in Government Ministries and local authorities and to improve the scope and quality of early childhood services and programs available for Israeli Arab children and their families. In each ECHAD community, a comprehensive set of programs operate in the fields of health, education and welfare that target professionals, parents and children.