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Early Childhood Programs

Early childhood programs aim to improve outcomes for young children and their families by offering a variety of support services such as child health and development assessments, early education and care, referral to community resources, and more. Use the following resources to learn more about selected early childhood programs.

• State and local examples

Office of Head Start Administration for Children and Families Funds agencies that offer Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families, with a focus on school readiness and parent involvement. National Quality Improvement Center on Early Childhood Generates and disseminates robust evidence and new knowledge about program and systems strategies that contribute to child maltreatment prevention and optimal developmental outcomes for infants, young children, and their families. National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center Provides comprehensive child care information resources to key stakeholders in States, Territories, and Tribes, as well as early care and school-age professionals and the general public.

Building Circles, Breaking Cycles: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: The Early Childhood Educator's Role (PDF - 171 KB)
National Association for the Education of Young Children (2004)
Highlights six strategies for early childhood educators to use to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect and strengthen families. Also see the discussion guide (PDF - 181 KB).

Center on the Developing Child
Harvard University
Generates, translates, and applies knowledge to enhance well-being and support positive life outcomes for children.

CWLA Standards of Excellence for Child Care, Development, and Education Services
Child Welfare League of America (2005)
View Abstract
Presents guidelines and best practices for early childhood programs in health, safety, and nutrition; environment; staffing; organization and administration; support systems; and social and mental health services.

The Early Childhood Atlas
Mississippi State University Early Childhood Institute & Center for Applied Research and Environmental Systems
Collects Federal, State, and nongovernmental datasets from studies of early childhood services and integrates the information into online mapmaking and reporting tools for public use. The goal of the atlas is to promote the quality and accessibility of early care and education.

Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center
Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families
Provides a Head Start directory as well as resources on child health and development, family and community partnerships, program design and management, professional development, and more.

Early Childhood Program Standards and Accreditation Criteria
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Presents accreditation criteria focusing on four areas: children, teaching staff, partnerships, and administration. The website includes steps and requirements for accreditation as well as information for programs, assessors, and facilitation projects.

Exemplary Early Childhood Programs
Center for the Study of Social Policy
Identifies 21 exemplary early care and education programs that support children and families.

First Reports Evaluating the Effectiveness of Strategies for Preventing Violence: Early Childhood Home Visitation: Findings From the Task Force on Community Preventive Services
Hahn, Bilukha, Crosby, Fullilove, & Liberman
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 52, 2003
Presents strong evidence for the effectiveness of early childhood home visitation for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The report includes information that can help communities apply recommended interventions locally.

Impacts of Early Childhood Programs (PDF - 2040 KB)
Isaacs (2008)
Summarizes existing evidence on five early childhood interventions, finding that most have had positive effects on children's emotional and behavioral outcomes.

Invest in Kids Working Group
Partnership for America's Economic Success
Examines and documents the economic benefits of investments in young children and explores policies to finance expansion of such services.

National Association for the Education of Young Children
Serves and acts on behalf of the needs, rights, and well-being of all young children with primary focus on providing educational and developmental services and resources.

Project LAUNCH
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Describes a grant program designed to promote the wellness of children ages birth to 8 years by focusing on their physical, emotional, social, and behavioral development. The website provides State and Tribal evidence-based practices and strategies for building infrastructure and improving methods for providing services and coordination among child-serving systems.

Protecting the Youngest: The Role of Early Care and Education in Preventing and Responding to Child Maltreatment (PDF - 239 KB)
National Conference of State Legislatures (2007)
Discusses policy options for States to consider to support early care and education programs in protecting young children and preventing abuse and neglect.

The Role of Professional Child Care Providers in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect

State Indicators for Early Childhood (PDF - 298 KB)
National Center for Children in Poverty (2008)
Reviews the characteristics of good indicators and proposes 36 indicators for States to use to monitor program performance and child outcomes related to early childhood systems.

Strengthening Families: A Guidebook for Early Childhood Programs (PDF - 2000 KB)
Center for the Study of Social Policy (2004)
Describes seven effective strategies that exemplary early childhood programs use to enhance functioning and nurture protective characteristics in families. Includes tips for implementing these strategies, examples of effective programs, and self-assessment forms.

Tracking Services for Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families: A Look at Federal Early Childhood Programs and the Roles of State and Local Governments (PDF - 137 KB)
ZERO TO THREE Policy Center (2007)
Summarizes the primary Federal programs now focused on very young children and the roles of Federal, State, and local governments in those programs. The program categories are: child care and early childhood education, child welfare, health and mental health, poverty, and professional development.

	Related Information Gateway Topics Preventing child abuse & neglect: Strengthening families - Parenting resources: Understanding developmental stages Preventing child abuse & neglect: Strengthening families - Enhancing protective factors: Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development

Updated on February 2, 2010