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Early Childhood Programs
Early childhood programs aim to improve outcomes for young children and their families by offering support services such as child health and development assessments, early education and care, referral to community resources, and more. Use the following resources to learn more about selected early childhood programs.
Office of Head Start
Administration for Children and Families
Funds agencies that offer Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families, with a focus on school readiness and parent involvement.
National Quality Improvement Center on Early Childhood
Generates and disseminates robust evidence and new knowledge about program and systems strategies that contribute to child maltreatment prevention and optimal developmental outcomes for infants, young children, and their families.
National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center
Provides comprehensive child care information resources to key stakeholders in States, Territories, and Tribes, as well as early care and school-age professionals and the general public.
Center on the Developing Child
Harvard University
Generates, translates, and applies knowledge to enhance well-being and support positive life outcomes for children.
Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center
Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families
Provides a Head Start directory as well as resources on child health and development, family and community partnerships, program design and management, professional development, and more.
Early Childhood Program Standards and Accreditation Criteria
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Presents accreditation criteria focusing on four areas: children, teaching staff, partnerships, and administration. The website includes steps and requirements for accreditation as well as information for programs, assessors, and facilitation projects.
Early Head Start National Resource Center (EHS NRC)
Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families
Creates and disseminates information on comprehensive early childhood programs and provides professional development opportunities to the Early Head Start and Head Start community.
Invest in Kids Working Group
Partnership for America's Economic Success
Examines and documents the economic benefits of investments in young children and explores policies to finance expansion of such services.
Key Findings From a 2009 National Parent Survey: Implications for Infant-Toddler Public Policy (PDF - 42 KB)
ZERO TO THREE (2010)
Explores issues and challenges that parents of young children confront today, where gaps in knowledge of early development exist, what sources of information and support these parents turn to, and what factors influence their approach to parenting.
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Serves and acts on behalf of the needs, rights, and well-being of all young children with primary focus on providing educational and developmental services and resources.
Project LAUNCH
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Describes a grant program designed to promote the wellness of children ages birth to 8 years by focusing on their physical, emotional, social, and behavioral development. The website provides State and Tribal evidence-based practices and strategies for building infrastructure and improving methods for providing services and coordination among child-serving systems.
Protecting the Youngest: The Role of Early Care and Education in Preventing and Responding to Child Maltreatment (PDF - 239 KB)
National Conference of State Legislatures (2007)
Discusses policy options for States to consider to support early care and education programs in protecting young children and preventing abuse and neglect.
The Role of Professional Child Care Providers in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect | |
Author(s): | Office on Child Abuse and Neglect Karageorge, Kendall |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 1,729KB) |
Year Published: | 2008 - 111 pages |
This manual provides information on the roles and responsibilities of child care providers in preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect within and outside early childhood programs. It also presents an overview of prevention efforts, reporting laws, caring for maltreated children, and ways to support parents and professionals who work with families. |
Strengthening Families: A Guidebook for Early Childhood Programs (PDF - 2000 KB)
Center for the Study of Social Policy (2007, 2nd ed.)
Describes seven strategies that exemplary early childhood programs use to enhance functioning and nurture protective characteristics in families. The guide includes tips for implementing these strategies, examples of effective programs, and self-assessment forms.
Tracking Services for Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families: A Look at Federal Early Childhood Programs and the Roles of State and Local Governments (PDF - 137 KB)
ZERO TO THREE Policy Center (2007)
Summarizes the primary Federal programs now focused on very young children and the roles of Federal, State, and local governments in those programs. The program categories are: child care and early childhood education, child welfare, health and mental health, poverty, and professional development.