Brianna Frost’s Post

https://lnkd.in/eBAXW5sE For those not closely following the childcare crisis - this piece is helpful in providing clear insight into why it's so expensive and why the market will not fix the issue. Public funding is needed.

Excellent and current explainer of why ECE is so expensive and hard to find. An extension of federal funding similar to ARPA is the only way forward for providers, parents and children.

We care about both the immediate and long-term impact of early childhood education for children, families, communities and employers. Yesterday we shared some of the short-term outcomes for the community. What are some long-term outcomes? A key outcome is lowered lifelong healthcare costs. A stable child-care situation creates less stress for children and parents, lowering lifelong healthcare costs. Also, children who are kindergarten ready do better in school and have higher graduation rates, which correlates to better health and wellbeing both as children and adults. Healthy, self-sufficient individuals and families support a strong local economy.

On average, countries from around the world invest $14,000/year in kids under age 5. In the U.S., that investment is just $500/year. Child Care is broken! TOOTRiS has the technology to fix Child Care by bringing together all the key stakeholders - parents, providers, employers, and government agencies - on one unifying platform that allows them to connect and transact in real-time. Innovations like this empower businesses and government with the means to revolutionize the broken Child Care system with technology that already exists. All it takes is action to move forward. #childcarebenefits #childcare #carecantwait https://lnkd.in/gzTuB4wC

Check out this informative graphic that sheds light on the current child care crisis in the US. It's alarming to see that the system was already broken before the pandemic hit and the solution to this problem lies in public investment. We need to prioritize our children's future and ensure that they have access to quality care. #childcare #publicinvestment #UScrisis

As an early childhood educator by training, I know the importance of ensuring all students and families have access to high quality early learning experiences. On September 30, 2023, $24 Billion worth of pandemic relief funding for child care is set to expire, this is known as the Child Care Funding Cliff. I recently conducted an analysis for The Council for Professional Recognition of how the upcoming Child Care Funding Cliff will impact the early care and education field, with a specific focus on the workforce. The bottom line is this, the field needs sustainable funding streams to support our nation’s youngest learners, families, and teachers. These last few days of September are crucial as Members of the House Appropriations Committee make their decisions about funding for child care and early learning programs. I've joined First Five Years Fund in urging Congress to protect and prioritize funding for programs including:      1.  Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which helps parents work while their children receive quality care.      2.  Head Start and Early Head Start, which deliver comprehensive early learning, health, nutrition, and family support services to families and children from birth to age five who are most in need.      3. And Preschool Development Grants Birth-Five, which supports states’ ability to collect data and build an early learning infrastructure. As the Congress makes decisions about funding for child care and early learning programs, it’s critical that they hear from YOU about how these programs support working families. I’ve already contacted my Members of Congress and you should too! #ChildCareChampion #Advocate https://lnkd.in/g9K_qY6B Learn more about how the Federal Child Care Funding Cliff will impact the field here: https://lnkd.in/gvcDs6Zj

One of my teachers during grad school, renowned for infant development, was Ruth Anne Hammond. She left a lasting impact on me regarding the care of infants. Her guidebook is an excellent resource for parents and educators to help infants grow up well. Side note: Please do not throw babies and toddlers in the air. If you're curious about why, feel free to ask. #InfantDevelopment #ParentingTips #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ChildSafety #RuthAnneHammond #EducationalResources #GrowthAndDevelopment #AskTheExpert #InfluentialTeaching

Center for American Progress Data Dashboard: An Overview of Child Care and Early Learning in the United States The Center for American Progress has developed a data dashboard that allows users to explore national- and state-level data trends on a range of child care and early learning topics, including access to affordable care, the child care workforce, Head Start, and exclusionary discipline policies. https://lnkd.in/gJxm_WNr

💡#DidYouKnow: High-quality early care and education can have profound long-term positive effects on children. These benefits include fewer referrals for special education services, fewer grade retentions, and an increased likelihood of graduating from high school.💡 #LAEarlyEdMonth #ChildCareIsEssential #ChildCareImpactsEveryone Learn more about how early care and education prepares young children for success in school and in life by visiting policyinstitutela.org.

Read Think Small latest #ece policy blog posts about what changes are coming out of the 2023 #mnleg session for MN's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)!