University of Michigan Poverty Solutions’ Post

A recently published report offers an in-depth exploration of the current state of the child care industry in the United States and highlights different approaches by other countries to tackle their child care difficulties. Our report, which describes teacher turnover in Nebraska's early care and education settings, including licensed child care, state-funded PreK, and Kindergarten through Grade 3, is referenced. Read more below. https://lnkd.in/g55ZuPU2

A whole-government approach to building a future of certainty recognizes that children's long-term well-being is influenced by various factors beyond healthcare. Social determinants like education, housing, economic stability, and emotional support are pivotal in shaping a child's development. Establishing a Ministry of Children enables governments to coordinate efforts across sectors, addressing the multifaceted needs of children from birth to adolescence. This holistic approach paves the way for a society that prospers through the well-being of its youngest members. #ChildrensWellBeing #GovernmentInitiative #FutureLeaders https://lnkd.in/d2d8tpuy

Urgent Alert: The Future of Head Start Is at Risk! Project 2025, a new policy proposal, could have devastating effects on our communities, especially in the rural areas. If implemented, this plan would completely eliminate the Head Start program—a lifeline for countless families who rely on it for affordable, high-quality early childhood education and care. Head Start is more than just a preschool program; it’s a critical resource that helps children thrive, supports working parents, and strengthens our community. Without it, many families will face severe hardships in finding and affording child care, putting our youngest and most vulnerable at a disadvantage. Let’s stand together to ensure every child has a fair start and every family has the support they need. If you would like to submit a video comment about what Head Start or Early Head Start have meant to you and your family, please upload it below or email to agency@shoreup.org. #SaveHeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ProtectOurChildren #CommunityAction #helpingpeoplechanginglives #headstart #earlyheadstart

Given the rapidly evolving landscape of policies and practices in Early Years, it's imperative to continuously update the knowledge and approaches of policymakers, academics, and practitioners to ensure seamless alignment with these advancements. Our forthcoming conference, 'Reimagining Early Childhood Care and Education (0 to 8 years)', serves as a crucial platform for facilitating dialogue among policymakers, stakeholders, academics, and practitioners. Through insightful panel discussions, we aim to explore two critical themes: 'Early Identification of Children with Special Needs (CWSN): Advancing Inclusion and Integration' and 'Transitional Years: Navigating the Dynamic Path for Grade 1 and Grade 2'. These topics underscore the urgent need for actionable initiatives grounded in thoughtful dialogue within the realm of 'Reimagining Early Childhood Care and Education (0 to 8 years)'. #viplafoundation #learngrowflourish #ngo #nonprofitorganisation #bridgethegap #conference #education #support #children #paneldisscusion #specialchildren #childhoodcare #development #2024

Discover the vital role of early childhood in our Roadmap guest blog with @education_commission! Explore evidence-based state policies for #earlychildhoodeducation, focusing on #childcaresubsidies, #EarlyHeadStart, and #earlyintervention! Read more here: https://bit.ly/4aWzcJT

📰 We support Centre for Young Lives's report that sets out proposals to address the crisis in preschool provision across the country, particularly in the most disadvantaged areas.   💬 Our CEO Russell Hobby CBE said: “Every child should start school with an equal opportunity to learn and thrive. Yet this will always be kept out of reach for too many, as the effects of poverty have a corrosive impact on young people’s ability to learn – even before their first steps in the classroom.      “Though these issues originate outside of the school gates, teachers and schools are increasingly bearing the brunt of them each day. Things must change, so in the upcoming Budget we want to see additional funding for schools serving disadvantaged communities – matched by a commitment to tackle child poverty. This is how the new government delivers the brighter future all our pupils deserve.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eSUrJTQD

Friday Facts on Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Family Ties series https://lnkd.in/e43K57eZ There are big differences in the ways licensed and unlicensed kinship foster care is supported across states. - Every state is required to provide a full foster care maintenance payment for licensed kinship placements, but only 23 states provide any financial assistance to those in unlicensed kinship care. - 40 states provide childcare for children in licensed kinship placements; only 26 states provide child care in unlicensed kinship placements - 37 states provide respite care for caregivers in licensed kinship placements; only 15 states provide respite care in unlicensed kinship placements A new federal rule makes it much easier for agencies to license kin. Congrats to the four states and one Tribe that have approved kin-specific licensing! Read our report on the disparities between licensed and unlicensed caregivers here: https://lnkd.in/e43K57eZ

For decades, the federal program Head Start has supported children’s early learning, development and health from birth to age 5 at no cost to income-eligible families. But many locations are struggling to fill teacher vacancies due to low pay and the expiration of pandemic-era subsidies. In Massachusetts, some sites have had to shut down preschool services and add children to waitlists in order to adequately pay educators. “We have filled almost all of our vacancies within six weeks. It's really very simple. You got to pay people a fair and decent wage,” said one program director. “But it is directly on the backs of children and families by preventing access.” We’re reading up on the impacts of Head Start’s shortage of funds here: https://lnkd.in/eszQFXEf. #headstart #earlychildhoodeducation #educationpolicy #poverty #incomeinequality #teachershortage #racialequity #nyulangone #parentcorps

Discover #earlychildhoodeducation policy and progress in our guest blog with the Education Commission of the States! Explore state policies for #earlychildhoodeducation, #childcaresubsidies, #earlyheadstart, and #earlyintervention! Take the plunge here: https://bit.ly/4aWzcJT

The upcoming legislative session is an opportunity for our lawmakers to ensure Montana is the best place to live and raise a family. Elevating early childhood as a top priority is critical for building a stronger Montana. By ensuring children in rural, urban and tribal communities across the state have access to safe and healthy early learning experiences and stable, nurturing environments, policymakers can help set the foundation for Montana’s kids to succeed. Strong systems are the basis for long-term sustainable change – every child in Montana deserves the chance to flourish, but not all children have access to the same early childhood supports. Our 2025 policy agenda is a collaborative effort. During the summer of 2024, the Zero to Five Montana team traveled across the state to engage with communities and gather input on early childhood issues. Partners in nine communities, including Billings, Cut Bank, Great Falls, Helena, Livingston, Lodge Grass, Miles City, Polson, and Red Lodge, shared their experiences around issues affecting young children and families in their areas. This on-the-ground input – from families and early childhood professionals as well as community and state leaders – helped inform our 2025 policy agenda. Together, we can help shape the decisions necessary to transform our state’s early childhood system. We invite you to check out our policy agenda here: https://bit.ly/2025agenda #prioritizekids #strongfuture #earlylearning #earlyeducation #earlychildhood #childcare #earlycare #supportedfamilies #supportedbusinesses #economicdevelopment #zerotofive #forourchildren #forourfuture #montana