Parents and Caregivers

DID YOU KNOW?

Of the children in households where all available parents are in the labor force, approximately 25% or 76,434 are served in licensed child care settings and subsidized Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) care…⁸

The Early Learning Coordination Plan is designed to support Parents and Caregivers in a variety of ways. Below are some of the key strategies the ELCP has identified to help Parents and Caregivers.

AFFORDABILITY

Enhancing affordability of early learning services for families who struggle to afford child care.
Supporting and expanding paid time off for parents to provide flexibility to support their family and children’s well-being.

ACCESS

Ensuring adequate funding and policies to support equitable outcomes for children, parents, caregivers and families.
Expanding access to culturally responsive services, activities and resources for economic, health and social emotional learning.
Ensuring a healthcare system that provides whole-person and whole-family care.
Increasing funding for and capacity to provide additional mental health supports for infants, children, families, schools and community providers.
Improving access to technology for all children and families.

PARTICIPATION

Enlisting the voices of parents and caregivers to be part of creating a more successful early learning system that meets the unique needs of their children. By opening up real opportunities for participation, parents and carefivers can help us co-create successful programs and policies that address disparities based on race, economics, geography, and developmental diversity.
Increasing opportunities for parents and families to get support and build trusting personal connections through expanding and promoting peer-to-peer support opportunities.

QUALITY

Enhancing learning environments with improved outcomes for all students by fostering a strong early learning system.
Making universal social emotional training and resources easily accessible for early learning providers, parents, caregivers, families and community partners.