Connect for Kids / Child Advocacy 360 / Youth Policy Action Center - Child Care

Boosting Your Recruitment and Enrollment, Lessons from a New York Beacon Center

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:51:17 -0600

Engaging young teens in quality out-of-school time programs is no easy feat. Cypress Hills-East New York, a Beacon Center located in Brooklyn, has developed a strategy for recruiting and enrolling youth ages 9 to 14 for its school-year program. What works best? The Youth Development Institute shares some of the secrets of success.

Boosting Your Recruitment and Enrollment, Lessons from a New York Beacon Center

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:01:12 -0600

Help Create America's After-School Storybook

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:04:48 -0500

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the federal 21st Century Community Learning
Centers, the Afterschool Alliance is creating a storybook featuring people whose lives
have been improved through out-of-school time programs. Share your stories and program

State-by-State Head Start Program Information Report

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:53:14 -0500

Released in 2008, this interactive chart and report from the Center for Law and Social Policy includes updated information on programs, participants, families, and staff for all Head Start programs in

Choosing Care for a Child with Special Needs

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:00:00 -0500

Finding quality, affordable child care can be difficult for any parent. For those with a special needs child, it can also be a very confusing and emotional experience. Rebecca Freshour looks at what the law says, and what parents need to know to find care for their children.

People, Places and Possibilities: Integrating Mentoring and After-School

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:23:14 -0500

A once-a-week adult-student mentoring meeting does not an after-school program make, according to this brief from the Forum for Youth Investment. But perhaps, with a little help, it could. The question is not which makes more sense, mentoring or after-school, but how can we utilize both strategies to increase the likelihood that young people have the supports they need to thrive.

Breaking the Piggy Bank: Parents and the High Price of Child Care

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:29:23 -0500

Newsflash is it isn't—many families know this too well—but a new national survey finds that child care is expensive. In fact, in 49 states, child care fees for two kids of any age exceed the median cost of rent. Low-wage families with very young children are especially hard hit. The report calls for more federal, state, and local investment in high-quality child care. (The 2006 federal budget has been criticized for failing to provide adequate child care funds for all low-wage workers.)

Predictors of Child Care Subsidy Use

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:36:06 -0500

When it comes to meeting the costs of child care, many low-income families eligible for help don't access it, and some states may not be doing enough to reach families not already involved in benefit programs. This National Center for Children in Poverty research brief looks at what's known about the characteristics of families using public subsidies for child care—and finds that, for example, families with children ages birth through 5 are more likely to use subsidies than those with older children, and African American mothers appear more likely to tap into child care help than mothers of other racial/ethnic backgrounds.

National Smart Start Conference

Fri, 10 Feb 2006 14:26:55 -0600

Start: Mar 7 2006 - 5:00pm

End: Mar 9 2006 - 5:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT+5

The 2006 National Smart Start Conference will be held March 7-9 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Early Childhood: Building the Foundation for Lifelong Health

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:31:26 -0500

Start: Mar 4 2006 - 12:30pm

End: Mar 8 2006 - 12:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT+5

The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) will hold its annual conference in Arlington, Virginia.

When it Comes to Child Care, Centers are Safest

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 14:23:46 -0600

While paid child care is very safe overall, centers are much safer than all other forms of child care, according to a new national study from the City University of New York Graduate Center. The fatality rate for children who receive child care in private homes is sixteen times higher than the fatality rate for children in child care centers.

Legislative Report Card on Policies Affecting Kids

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:29:34 -0500

The Children's Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego law school has released its 2005 Children's Legislative Report Card, which describes the year and examines several child-friendly bills in the areas of economic security, nutrition, health and safety, child care, and child protection.

Informal Care Not the Best Option, Study Finds

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:32:06 -0500

Another new study finds that informal care—using family, friends, or other arrangements—was associated with lower cognitive-ability test scores in kids ages 3 to 6. By contrast, formal, center-based child care had no negative impact compared with remaining in mothers' care.

The "Early Child Care Report": The Debate Goes On

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:36:41 -0500

Four years ago, this controversial report offered evidence that children in child care were more aggressive than those whose mothers stay home. An update to the study finds that some of the apparent effects on children's behavior disappear by the third grade, but other socialization problems may remain.

In Need of Leave

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:26:18 -0500

Caring for a sick child or bringing home a newborn baby can be daunting responsibilities. Worries about lost income can add to the stress. Rob Capriccioso reports on how paid family leave programs can help.