In more than two-thirds of American families, both parents -- or a single parent -- must work outside the home. This makes affordable, accessible childcare a significant need. Childcare and early education is vital for the success of children and their families, contributing to increased financial self-sufficiency for parents and reducing societal costs for public assistance, welfare and special education.
At the YWCA of the Hartford Region, we believe that every woman should be able to go to work, knowing her child is in good hands. We provide that assurance with affordable childcare programs that offer a safe environment while catering to the unique developmental needs of both toddlers and preschoolers and elementary school children.
Two of the YWCA's three early learning centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC takes a national leadership role in helping to set policies and advocate for early childhood education.
A Call for Excellence in Early Childhood Education
Early Years Are Learning Years
The demand for early childhood care and education programs continues to increase, not only in response to the growing demand for out-of-home childcare, but also in recognition of the critical importance of educational experiences during the early years. Several decades of research clearly demonstrate that high-quality, developmentally appropriate, early childhood programs produce short- and long-term positive effects on children's cognitive and social development.
NAEYC members, most of whom work directly with young children and families, see daily the toll of ill-conceived policies on the lives of the children and families we serve. Existing programs have too often taken fragmented, piecemeal approaches to the complex issues facing children and families. Effective policies have seldom been funded at sufficient levels to provide adequate support to all families who might benefit.
NAEYC believes that our nation is at a crossroads. We must develop an integrated system of early childhood care and education that includes comprehensive approaches that directly involve families and communities in program design, implementation, and evaluation. We can invest now in our children and families and enjoy long-term savings, with a more vibrant nation of healthy, achieving children and more stable families. Or, we can fail to make the investment and pay the price: increased delinquency, greater educational failures, lowered productivity, less economic competitiveness, and fewer adults prepared to be effective, loving parents to the next generation of children. Federal, state and local government, communities, parents and the private sector must share in the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of children and families.
Our nation can and must do better to create opportunities that help all children and families succeed. The time for action is now.
For more information on early childhood education and how you can be an advocate for assuring a strong foundation for our children and fair pay for our teachers, check out www.naeyc.org/policy/ or www.afterschoolalliance.org.
For information on issues that impact children in Connecticut and how you can become an informed advocate for children, visit the Web site for Connecticut Voices for Children: www.ctkidslink.org.
In Connecticut, eligible families can receive assistance in meeting the cost of childcare through the Care4kids program. To find out more about Care4kids and childcare in Connecticut, please visit www.ctcare4kids.com.
To locate a childcare provider in your area or access other helpful information for parents about childcare, visit www.childcareinfoline.org.
To find out more about care for school age children, www.afterschoolalliance.org. |
