“The news that a widespread baby formula outage is threatening the health of millions of American babies should be a shock. Two years into a pandemic, a ‘dramatic’ shortage in baby formula has left fragile infants and their families scrambling, as a result of supply chain shortages, formula recalls and high inflation. Those families who rely on specialty formulas are particularly at risk, with the literal lives of children at stake. But is it really shocking that our society puts the needs of babies, women and families last? … A lone mom cannot solve a supply chain that does not prioritize the wellbeing of mothers and families. One woman cannot do the work of an entire village. That’s why asking moms to do more can no longer be the answer to society’s many failings.”
|
|
|
|
In addition to rising food prices and ongoing supply chain issues, the pandemic has also exacerbated food insecurity. In Ohio, 334,000 more people were served by food pantries in March 2022 than two years ago. The federal COVID-19 emergency declaration will end in July and without increases in SNAP benefits, the Dispatch reports that at least 700,000 Ohio households will lose their food stamps.
|
|
|
City
Columbus City Council Pro Tempore Elizabeth Brown sponsored an ordinance to allocate $1.3 million for continued funding of pre-K programs for eligible 4-year-olds in Columbus.
|
|
State
Gov. DeWine announced a new $84 million pediatric behavior health initiative, made possible through federal funds. The funds will go toward several large Ohio hospitals, as well as health centers and the Appalachian Children’s Coalition.
On a related note, Gov. DeWine announced plans to use $85 million to help build the mental health workforce in Ohio. The funds must be approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and would go toward student scholarships, internships, and exam fees, to try to address the shortage of mental health workers in the state.
|
|
Registration is now open for the Ohio Heading to Kindergarten Transition Summit on June 2nd from 12:30 - 4 pm. This virtual summit is focused on building partnerships that support successful transitions to kindergarten and providing guidance on how early care and education programs, public schools, and community partners can collaborate to better child outcomes. Crane faculty associate Dr. Kelly Purtell will present "Understanding Preschool and Kindergarten Alignment: Strategies to Improve the Kindergarten Transition." View the full agenda and register here. |
|
New America describes efforts by two states (Colorado and Illinois) to reduce the use of exclusionary discipline practices in early childhood education.
Through its state budget process, New York’s governor has proposed a four-year, $7 billion investment in child care. Under the proposal, families up to 300% of the federal poverty line would be eligible for subsidized care ($83,000 for a family of three). For comparison, Ohio’s eligibility threshold (for entry into the system) is 142%.
Children’s Funding Project published a case study on the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association’s efforts to build a cross-sector coalition of advocates for sustainable child care in the state. One of the coalition’s goals is to compare the true cost of child care with existing funding sources available to identify inequities and target investments. The Wisconsin legislature also approved a $194 million of American Rescue Plan funds to invest in early care and education.
|
|
The federal Office of Early Childhood Development hosted a webinar outlining public service loan forgiveness opportunities for the early childhood education workforce.
|
|
Here’s a strong argument for more robust and workable data systems that span the spectrum of a child’s learning – from early childhood to the time they enter the workforce.
Hechinger Report describes employer-led efforts to provide affordable child care for workers.
A report by the Urban Institute, described here by Fatherly.com, found that the federal Child Tax Credit payments may have reduced food insecurity among recipients. Researchers also found that the credit did not appear to impact employment rates – or more specifically, it did not adversely influence work effort.
Educators nationwide are sounding the alarm that children, particularly in early grades, are behind academically and in need of more individualized attention. This piece from New America explains what teachers need to provide “widespread interventions” to students, such as alternative ways of structuring their classrooms and schedules, as they recover from lost instructional time during the pandemic.
|
|
This edition written by: Jamie O'Leary and Caitlin Lennon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
