Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/expanding-access-for-vulnerable-families/5021520/
President Obama’s proposal for early learning calls for increasing Early Head Start-Child Care partnerships to reach an additional 110,000 infants and toddlers in poverty �" many of whom are currently in unstable or unsafe arrangements and need the comprehensive services and early learning support that Early Head Start provides. This investment would double the number of babies of low-income families currently able to access these supports and is intended to play a critical role in building a stronger early learning system in America.These kinds of partnerships already exist. During the 2012-2013 school year, Early Head Start and Head Start programs served nearly 30,000 children through center-based child care partners and another 5,200 in family child care homes. While these partnerships are all focused on expanding access to quality, they vary considerably across the country and across program models. Partnerships are developed in different child care settings and involve a range of models for sharing funds, resources, and training. Described below are three strong, but markedly different examples of these partnerships, each worth considering as the President’s proposal moves forward and as individual communities think about how best to build collaboration across programs.
Children First Early Head Start
Venice Family Clinic’s Children First ...