A Roadmap to Strengthen Ohio's Prenatal-to-3 Systems of Care
The prenatal to age 3 period is the most rapid and critical period of development, setting the foundation for a child's long-term health and wellbeing. All children deserve the opportunity to be born healthy and grow up in nurturing, stable, and secure environments. Unfortunately, many children lack the opportunities they deserve, and these disparities are often influenced by state policy choices.
The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center has developed a comprehensive State Policy Roadmap that provides each state with information on how the state is doing and how to better support the healthy development of infants and toddlers.
Based on comprehensive reviews of the most rigorous evidence available, the State Policy Roadmap identifies 11 effective policies and strategies that help kids thrive. The Policy Roadmap tracks states' progress on adopting and implementing the best investments that states can make for our youngest children.
Serving Infants and Toddlers Who Have Experienced Trauma
Through our Center for Maternal and Young Child Health, Groundwork Ohio recently published a report examining Ohio's infant and early childhood mental health landscape. As our report highlights, there are many opportunities to promote emotional health, prevent trauma, and treat mental health problems before they manifest more serious problems later in life.
This week, we're featuring a blog from the National Head Start Association featuring an innovative approach in Ohio to address the growing need to support children who’ve experienced trauma.
Three years ago, Warren County Community Services (WCCS) launched its Therapeutic Interagency Preschool (TIP) Program designed for children with special developmental and emotional needs who have experienced trauma and abuse. Last year, WCCS created Baby TIP to serve infants and toddlers and their families. Services are provided to infants, toddlers, and their families in whichever program option the family prefers—home-based, center-based, or through a child care partnership.
Check out the National Head Start Association's blog to learn more about WCCS' efforts to provide young children and their families with mental health and family support services.
New Report: Creating Equity for the Early Childhood Workforce
Ohio’s early childhood education professionals are building our state’s future. Their critical work lays the foundation for young children's learning and healthy development, while providing parents and caregivers essential support. The pandemic has made clear how important early childhood educators are in supporting children, families, and our state’s success.
To recover, rebuild, and thrive in the wake of the pandemic, our nation’s cities, towns, and villages need leaders that prioritize the well-being of all who make up the early childhood education workforce. As a new report from the National League of Cities explains, the early childhood education workforce is part of a city’s infrastructure and key to a thriving economy.
The report goes on to say that in order to ensure success and positive outcomes for early childhood educators, city leaders should consider prioritizing this sector’s needs. It’s important that policies and practices are grounded in equity as we work toward an equitable recovery that builds back better.
"If I Didn't Have the Proper Child Care, I Would Not Be Able to Work."
Nearly 3 million women have left the workforce since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, in large part due to the ongoing child care crisis. Without access to quality, affordable, and reliable child care, many working mothers have dropped out of the workforce to care for their young children. In fact, the rate of women participating in the workforce is at its lowest point since the late 1980s.
Solving the child care crisis is key to helping women reenter the workforce and building a growing, thriving economy. As Adrienne, a Cincinnati mother, recently shared with us, "If I didn't have the proper child care, I would not be able to work."
Adrienne is one of several Ohio parents and caregivers Groundwork Ohio has recently spoke with about the importance of quality child care. Like other parents, Adrienne simply wants what's best for her family, including quality early childhood education. In Adrienne's words: "When I was looking for a place for my children, I was looking for a place where they can learn and grow and just elevate."
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