http://www.clasp.org/issues/rss/topic_highlights.xml?type=child_care_and_early_education&id=0011 Featured Highlights from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 03:36:32 -0500 info@clasp.org webmaster@clasp.org 40 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/EHS-PIR-2011-Fact-Sheet.pdf This fact sheet reviews the 2011 Program Information Report (PIR) data for the Early Head Start program, which serves children under age 3 and pregnant women. In 2011, Early Head Start continued to provide vital services to a diverse group of low-income children and families. However, only about 4 percent of eligible children receive Early Head Start services. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/EHS-PIR-2011-Fact-Sheet.pdf Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/ehsinitiatives.pdf All babies need good health, strong families, and positive early learning experiences to foster their healthy intellectual, social, and emotional development. Unfortunately, far too few young children receive the supports they need to build a strong foundation for future growth. The federal Early Head Start (EHS) program was created in 1994 to address the comprehensive needs of children under age 3 in low-income families and vulnerable low-income pregnant women. Research shows that EHS positively impacts children's cognitive, language, and social-emotional development; family self-sufficiency; and parental support of child development. This report highlights how states are using innovative funding, policies, and partnerships, to expand the critically important EHS program and better meet the needs of more low-income children and pregnant women living in their state. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/ehsinitiatives.pdf Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/A-Guide-to-Financing-Comprehensive-Services-in-Child-Care-and-Early-Education.pdf This guide provides state policymakers and advocates with strategies to maximize resources and make policy changes that drive funds, resources, and community partners to child care and early education programs to benefit young children and families. Separate from blending and braiding funding streams at the local or program level, the strategies described in this guide focus on state policy decisions that can facilitate the innovative use of funds, encourage partnerships at the state and local level, and replicate promising models from other states. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/A-Guide-to-Financing-Comprehensive-Services-in-Child-Care-and-Early-Education.pdf Tue, 05 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Home-Away-from-Home.pdf Home visiting and family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) partnerships hold great opportunity to reach more children with family support services during the critical early years. This tookit provides states with an overview of FFN and home visiting partnerships, a tool to help states explore and establish this type of partnership, and case studies of existing home visiting and FFN partnerships. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Home-Away-from-Home.pdf Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/publications?id=0010 This tool is intended for state advocates and policymakers to use as they work to develop a state early childhood agenda. It includes a series of key questions to understand the context and conditions of young children, birth to six, in the state. It also includes questions specific to infants and toddlers. http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/publications?id=0010 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/states?id=0038 Children develop along a continuum, with milestones reached at ages that vary within an accepted timeframe. Development that does not happen within the expected timeframe can raise concerns about developmental disorders, health conditions, or other factors contributing negatively to the childaEUR(TM)s development. Child care providers are often early witnesses to the signs of developmental problems with the children in their care, but they may not have the capacity or training to identify a problem, discuss concerns with families, and guide families in seeking related services. http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/states?id=0038 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/EHS-PIR-2010-Fact-Sheet.pdf This fact sheet reviews the 2010 Program Information Reports (PIR) data for the Early Head Start program, which serves children under age 3 and pregnant women. In 2010, Early Head Start continued to provide vital services to a diverse group of low-income children and families. However, less than 4 percent of eligible children receive Early Head Start services. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/EHS-PIR-2010-Fact-Sheet.pdf Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/recommendations?id=0009 To protect and promote the growth and development of very young children, providers and caregivers need to demonstrate constant vigilance over signs of potential harm and maintain clean, nurturing spaces. All babies and toddlers in child care need healthy and safe environments in which to explore and learn. To support this goal, CLASP recommends that states conduct routine monitoring of infant and toddler child care in centers and family child care settings at least twice a year, provide technical assistance to help providers with licensing compliance, and use information on provider compliance to inform parents and ensure ongoing improvements in monitoring systems and child care quality. http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/recommendations?id=0009 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/NAEYC-2011-Presentation.pdf Quality, stable child care arrangements support the healthy development of infants and toddlers. This presentation from the 2011 NAEYC Annual Conference in Orlando, FL describes how state subsidy policies can support retention of child care subsidies and continuous care for infants and toddlers. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/NAEYC-2011-Presentation.pdf Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/system_components.pdf CLASP has developed this resource to help state leaders strategize how to create or improve early childhood systems to meet the needs of vulnerable babies and toddlers, their families, and pregnant women. Every state has the pieces of a comprehensive early childhood system in place. This tool will help state leaders locate and build them into a system that meets the needs of children and families. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/system_components.pdf Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/What-State-Leaders-Should-Know-About-EHS.pdf Early Head Start (EHS) is a federally-funded, community-based program that provides comprehensive child and family development services to low-income pregnant women and families with children under the age of 3. This paper reviews 11 key aspects of how the EHS program works and includes considerations for state leaders. The paper is meant to serve as an introduction to the program for state policymakers, not to provide official guidance or interpretation of the laws and regulations governing EHS. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/What-State-Leaders-Should-Know-About-EHS.pdf Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/recommendations?id=0009 To protect and promote the growth and development of very young children, providers and caregivers need to demonstrate constant vigilance over signs of potential harm and maintain clean, nurturing spaces. All babies and toddlers in child care need healthy and safe environments in which to explore and learn. To support this goal, CLASP recommends that states conduct routine monitoring of infant and toddler child care in centers and family child care settings at least twice a year, provide technical assistance to help providers with licensing compliance, and use information on provider compliance to inform parents and ensure ongoing improvements in monitoring systems and child care quality. http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/recommendations?id=0009 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/What-State-Leaders-Should-Know-About-EHS.pdf http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/What-State-Leaders-Should-Know-About-EHS.pdf Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/federal_policy/pages?id=0024 http://www.clasp.org/federal_policy/pages?id=0024 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/system_components.pdf CLASP has developed this resource to help state leaders strategize how to create or improve early childhood systems to meet the needs of vulnerable babies and toddlers, their families, and pregnant women. Every state has the pieces of a comprehensive early childhood system in place. This tool will help state leaders locate and build them into a system that meets the needs of children and families. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/system_components.pdf Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0934&list=publications Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, also known as No Child Left Behind or NCLB) funds long have been used to provide preschool services for at-risk children. This paper focuses on the Appleton Area School District (AASD) in Appleton, Wisconsin and their efforts to use Title I funds to finance a comprehensive birth-five program. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0934&list=publications Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/publications?id=0002 This tool, part of CLASP's Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project, is designed to provide a policy framework that lays out child care subsidy policies that can be implemented to better support babies and toddlers and their families. Users can download and save a copy of this tool, then fill in the appropriate columns with their state's current policies and opportunities for change. http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/publications?id=0002 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/ccdbgparticipation_2009babies.pdf http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/ccdbgparticipation_2009babies.pdf Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/publications?id=0004 This tool is includes a series of key questions to understand the context and conditions of infants and toddlers in the state, encompassing data on demographics and program/service participation, as well as the details of child care and early education settings in the state. Users can download and save a copy of this tool, then fill in their state's data. http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/publications?id=0004 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/recommendations?id=0008 As they develop from birth to age 3, young children rely on the adults who care from them to keep them clean, dry, fed, and safe from harm. All babies and toddlers in child care need healthy and safe environments in which to explore and learn. To support this goal, CLASP recommends that states ensure that state licensing rules require practices and training that protect the safety of infants and toddlersaEUR*by addressing physical environments, safe sleep practices, bathing, and accident preventionaEUR*and promote infant/toddler health and well-being (including areas such as hand-washing, holding, feeding, comforting, diapering, and providing responsive caregiving); make certain that all infant and toddler providers and caregivers have access to the training and technical assistance needed to care for this age group; and require training prior to child care subsidy receipt. http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/recommendations?id=0008