The problem

Lead is unsafe to consume, inhale, or absorb at any level. Yet lead-based paint is common in homes built before 1978 and a home’s drinking water or soil can be contaminated with lead. How can home-based providers protect themselves and the children in their care? 

This is a free online course from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on managing infectious diseases in group care settings. The course is approved for 1.0 contact hours of training credit.  As described by AAP, the topic is important because millions of children attend early care and education settings every day. During the first 2 years of attendance, children enrolled in group settings experience a higher incidence of illnesses. When children are sick and excluded from an early care setting, it causes significant public health and economic impact. It is essential for child care settings to provide healthy and safe environments to ensure appropriate child development and learning.  

Over the past few years, legislators and state administrators have noticed an alarming trend: a substantial decline in the number of child care providers. How much of a decline? Well, according to the National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, the number of small, licensed family child care homes fell by 35% between 2011 and 2017.  

At Child Care Aware^® of America, we understand the importance of translating research findings into actions. Each year, our network of passionate advocates use our research to advocate for child care policies that increase access to affordable, high-quality child care.  This research drives public dialogue on the issue and informs policymakers and advocates in their work. The US and the High Price of Child Care is no different in its ability to support advocacy for change.  

I'm Tricia Howland, the Director of Family & Community Engagement at Brightside Up, Inc. I’ve been at the agency for 20 years helping parents find child care, engaging in community events and facilitating family workshops. Vroom has been an exciting addition to the work we do at the Brightside Up, Inc. The Brightside Up agency was one of the first ten Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&R) to become an ambassador in a pilot project of the Child Care Aware^® of America Vroom Partnership initiative.

By bringing Vroom to the Capital District area of Albany, New York, we were able to share the brain building benefits of play with the community we serve. It has allowed us to boost family engagement and provide information on the importance of relationship building, all while supporting the early years of a child’s development.

Brain development is a complex process involving chemical and electrical interactions. We now have decades of research describing how learning occurs and how brains develop. We have equipment that allows us to watch the brain in action and we now know about synaptic pruning.

None of that really matters to a mom who just wants to do the best she can to help her child thrive.
None of that really matters to a dad who lives for the moments that he sees his child’s eyes light up in wonder. What matters to them is that they can do something to help their child learn, grow and prosper – to fulfill the promise that exists between parent and child from the moment of birth.    

That’s where Vroom comes in.