Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/more-than-a-meal-the-role-of-early-childhood-education-and-care-in-food-security/5027242/
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The success of children in early childhood education and care settings requires a holistic and family-centric approach. Integrating aspects of the family into a program allows providers working with young children to build stronger relationships and also helps them to better understand the broader social and economic complexities of those families’ lives. Building a trusted connection provides allows educators to provide support in ways they may not have been able to otherwise. Trusting relationships leave the door open for families to disclose information about additional support they may need at home, such as food.
The USDA defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a family or it can last a long time. It is estimated that over 34 million people in the U.S. are currently experiencing food insecurity, with at least 9 million of those being children. To put that in perspective, fully 10 percent of the American population is unsure of the source of their next meal, and the problem continues to worsen. Prior to ...