You might be wondering, “What is a Child Care Desert?”.  Just as food deserts — urban areas where it’s difficult to buy affordable, fresh food — can have an adverse impact on nutrition, “child care deserts” identifies an absence of an essential commodity to support the workforce that results in limited access, which current child care systems do not meet.

Tulsa, Oklahoma - September is National Preparedness Month, and Child Care Resource Center is celebrating by kicking off a new two-year emergency preparedness project. Tulsa-based Child Care Resource Center, a program of the Community Service Council (a United Way partner agency), was recently awarded the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies as Resilience Hubs grant. The training program is designed to strengthen emergency preparedness efforts geared toward children, parents, and child care providers while also enhancing coordination with first responders and disaster response organizations.

For many parents, August is a busy month that marks the end of summer vacation and the beginning of school for their children. With that transition, we at Child Care Aware® of America are ever-mindful of the challenges associated with finding not just child care but specifically quality afterschool child care.

Arlington, VA – Child Care Aware^® of America, the nation’s leading voice for child care, is leveraging the growing pressure for positive change by launching a movement and giving it a name—Child Care Works. The goal of this grassroots initiative is to further escalate the need for a child care system that works for all American families.

The Obama Administration released the long-anticipated Head Start Performance Standards late last week. The new rule allows for greater flexibility at the local level and puts great emphasis on family engagement.

Right now, we are at a key turning point for child care. States across the country are working to expand access. Presidential candidates are speaking out on the issue. And a movement is growing to make sure families can find quality child care that fits their budget.