Childcare & Early Education

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: An adult with shoulder length dark hair holds a child; both look smiling at the camera.]

June 13, 2019

When I found out I was pregnant with my first child I thought I had plenty of time to find childcare. I was lucky enough to be able to take 12 weeks off from work so I wouldn't need childcare right away after the baby was born. I was completely wrong. No one told me that I needed to start looking...

Billie Spears

Childcare & Early Education

June 7, 2019

Close your eyes and think about the words summer school. What comes to mind? If you picture a room full of children clapping, cheering, laughing and falling in love with reading you could be imagining the experience thousands of children across the country are about to have as they participate in...

Marian Wright Edelman

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A colorful graphic that says "Weekly Blog Round Up" on a pink background]

Childcare & Early Education Maternal Justice

June 7, 2019

VICTORY: Thank you, Gov. Murphy, for standing up for maternal health in NJ! In the past few weeks, New Jersey took a MAJOR step forward in addressing the state’s maternal health crisis when Governor Phil Murphy signed five maternal health bills into law. The passing and signing of these bills is...

Anita Sarah Jackson

Childcare & Early Education

June 1, 2019

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always been a “talker”. My teachers across all grade levels reminded me to either use my indoor voice, or not use my voice at all. My parent conferences always sounded something like this: “Your daughter is excelling in all academic areas, but one thing she needs to...

Marysol Perez

Childcare & Early Education Social & Emotional Development

May 31, 2019

As the school year ends and families look ahead to summer plans, I hope many will be able to consider travel that is not just a vacation, but an education and inspiration. Several years ago I had the opportunity to take my granddaughters with me to Selma, Alabama, where they got to meet Mrs. Amelia...

Marian Wright Edelman

Childcare & Early Education Social & Emotional Development

May 23, 2019

For some kids, summer means getting on the computer and not getting off 'til September. And even though a lot of parents relax their screen limits over the break, allowing a full-on hibernation is just not gonna happen . And it shouldn't. Kids need to get outside, of course. But they also need to...

Caroline Knorr

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A young child with shoulder length black hair wears a light blue dress, sits on the floor with bright color blocks, and laughs.]

Childcare & Early Education Immigration

May 22, 2019

If federal immigration agents came to your family’s child care program to arrest or interview a parent or staff member, would program staff know what to do? Would they know that immigration agents are generally restricted from entering their centers? An unwelcome, unexpected visit from immigration...

Rebecca Ullrich

Childcare & Early Education Food!

May 21, 2019

Within Kansas City, MO, a baby born in one neighborhood had a life expectancy 15 years shorter than a child born just a few miles away. Communities Creating Opportunity (CCO),a driving force for social justice and health in Kansas City and a Voices for Healthy Kids grantee, responded to the challenge in many ways. That comprehensive approach to improving health, particularly in neighborhoods that historically have lacked access to financial investment and opportunities, helped Kansas City win a 2015 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize.

Stephanie Vaughn

Childcare & Early Education Families & The Federal Budget Family Economic Security Food! Politics & Policy

May 20, 2019

Summer is coming and that marks the end of the school year for our kiddos. Summer should be a time to relax, play in the sunshine, and enjoy time with friends and family. But sadly for millions of children, summertime marks the beginning of a three-month episode of hunger. But together, with the...

Elyssa Schmier

Childcare & Early Education

May 20, 2019

As a teenager, many of Barbara Johns’ wildest dreams were about a surprising subject: a new school. “My imagination would run rampant—and I would dream that some mighty man of great wealth built us a new school building or that our parents got together and surprised us with this grand new building...

Marian Wright Edelman