The Problem

The number one cause of death and disability for children in the U.S. is from injuries. Most injuries are preventable AND predictable.

Child Care Aware® of America is excited to release four new story maps examining gaps in child care supply and demand  for infants and toddlers. Child care slots for children age birth to three can be both difficult to find and unaffordable for many  families. Our Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) partners in Alaska, Arizona, Delaware and Hawaii wanted  to investigate the supply and demand for infant-toddler care in their states, in addition to mapping child care supply and demand for children under six with all parents in the labor force.  Our findings were quite shocking:

Early childhood professionals, researchers and policymakers are talking about childhood trauma. Traumatic events that children experience include abuse or neglect, divorce, or the incarceration of a parent. These experiences, known as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), are common, often occur together and can impact long-term health outcomes such as heart disease, diabetes and even cancer.

WASHINGTON, DC — Dr. Lynette M. Fraga, executive director of Child Care Aware® of America, issued the following statement on changes the House Agriculture Committee has approved for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the current version of the House Farm Bill (H.R. 2):

Help CACFP Celebrate a Milestone 

The program turns 50 on May 8, 2018. Nemours Children’s Health System and the National Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Forum will be creating a billboard-sized birthday card on Capitol Hill. The card will be a mosaic of thousands of images from community programs serving CACFP meals and snacks. (Sorry, the deadline to submit photos has passed.) Some providers are hosting CACFP birthday parties in their programs. If you're interested, here are some places to go for party ideas: 

The Problem 

Infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) is an evidence-based intervention for supporting young children’s social-emotional development. It teams a mental health professional with early care and education professionals to improve children’s social, emotional and behavioral health. However, many child care providers may not have access to or may not know how to get the most out of a mental health consultant.