Kim Engelman

Kim Engelman
In 2015, Dr. Engelman joined Child Care Aware® of America’s staff team where she uses her expertise and knowledge from preventive medicine and public health, health and human service systems, child development, research and data, clinical psychology and early childhood care and education to advance Child Care Aware® of America’s mission.

Recent Posts

Is It Safe to Bring My Child to Child Care during COVID-19?

By Kim Engelman on May 15, 2020

Among the highest priorities for families with young children is the desire to keep their children safe from harm, healthy, happy and well. While many families are keeping their children at home right now, states are slowly starting to re-open. But is it safe for a child to be in a group early childhood setting? 

Topics: Parenting, Coronavirus

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Agarrar, adaptar e ir – Recursos de COVID-19 para los programas de cuidado infantil

By Kim Engelman on April 24, 2020

La propagación del Coronavirus (COVID-19) ha tenido un impacto inmediato en un pilar crítico de los Estados Unidos – los programas de cuidado infantil. Muchos programas están lidiando con preguntas sobre si deberían mantener sus puertas abiertas a las familias y, si lo hacen, qué deberían considerar para asegurar la salud y seguridad de los niños y las familias. Algunos programas pueden enfrentar un mandato estatal para cerrar temporalmente sus puertas al público. Otros pueden contemplar ofrecer cuidado infantil de emergencia en su comunidad para las familias que tienen trabajos clasificados como esenciales.

Topics: En español, Coronavirus

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Grab, Adapt and Go - COVID-19 Resources for Child Care Programs

By Kim Engelman on March 29, 2020

The spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) is having an immediate impact on a critical backbone of the United States—child care programs. Many programs are grappling with questions surrounding whether they should keep their doors open to families and, if they do, what they should be considering to ensure the health and safety of children and families. Some programs may face a state mandate to temporarily close their doors to the public. Others may contemplate stepping up to supply emergency child care in their community for families whose jobs classify them as essential workers.

Topics: Coronavirus

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Your On-the-Go Consumer Education Brochure Suite

By Kim Engelman on February 11, 2020


The process of searching for child care is undeniably one of the most difficult processes for families with young children to navigate. Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies play a critical role in partnering with families to ensure they have information to make the right child care choice for their family. We are excited to share with you a newly refreshed suite of on-the-go child care information brochures that you can use to bolster your own consumer education offerings.

Topics: Business Operations for CCR&Rs, Family & Community Engagement, En español

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Family Voices: Gratitude for Family Advocates who Fuel Policy  Advancements

By Kim Engelman on February 18, 2019

Engaging families meaningfully in child care advocacy has been central to Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA)’s mission for over a decade. The voices of families as they share their child care experiences are critically important to contextualizing the child care system challenges that we face nationwide. I have had the privilege of personally getting to know many of the family advocates that have partnered with CCAoA over the years. This year’s call for family advocate applicants has closed and notifications of acceptance have been sent to selected advocates. I adore being witness to the excitement as I see a flood of social media posts and personal notes from family advocates as they share proudly that they have been selected to join us for this year’s Child Care Works Summit.

Topics: Family & Community Engagement, Policy & Advocacy, Family Stories

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Family Engagement: What IS IT and What Does It LOOK LIKE?

By Kim Engelman on October 05, 2017

Every week in the United States, nearly 11 million children younger than age five are in some type of child care arrangement, many of whom spend 30 hours or more per week in out of home care.  Over 100,000 of Kansas children are served through Kansas early care programs. Early care and education settings are a critical extension of the family home with continuity between the two being of prime importance.

Topics: Systems Building, Family & Community Engagement, Best Practices

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