Recent Publications About Early Care and Education
2023 Update Helping Maine Grow: Strengthening Our Early Care and Education System Will Improve the Health and Well-being of Children and Support Working Parents
June 14, 2023: Mainers have a long tradition of working together to solve tough problems. Right now, we face a significant, but solvable challenge of an inadequate early care and education (ECE) system. In fact, the problem is that it isn’t a “system” at all but a patchwork of programs of variable quality, affordability, and availability throughout the state. This creates inequities in opportunity both for children’s healthy development and the stability of our workforce. What can we do to support the needs of our modern workforce and ensure Maine has a professional and thriving early care and education system? In the following sections, we briefly describe the current challenges facing both families and providers, strategies to help repair our patchwork of programs throughout the state to create a true early childhood system, and what kinds of investments are required to build and sustain that system.
Helping Maine Grow: Strengthening Our Early Care and Education System Will Improve the Health and Well-being of Children and Support Working Parents
June 14, 2021: Mainers have a long tradition of working together to solve tough problems. Right now, we face a significant, but solvable challenge of an inadequate early care and education (ECE) system. In fact, the problem is that it isn’t a “system” at all but a patchwork of programs of variable quality, affordability, and availability throughout the state. In the following sections, we briefly describe the current challenges facing both families and providers, strategies to help repair our patchwork of programs throughout the state to create a true early childhood system, and what kinds of investments are required to build and sustain that system.
Maine School Reopening 2020
July 13, 2020: We are all eager to provide an improved academic experience for students this fall, and ideally, for a safe return to classroom instruction. As state and local leaders consider the reopening of schools, there are many important factors that should be considered. In addition to the necessary health and safety considerations of students and staff, it is critical to also address social-emotional and mental health, as well as the needs of specific student populations.
COVID-19 Child Care Recommendations for State Action
March 17, 2020: MaineAEYC, FCCAM, Maine Children’s Alliance, Maine Head Start Directors Association, and the YMCAs of Maine are committed to the health and wellbeing of young children and all who care for, educate, and work on their behalf. We are writing to request clear guidance from the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) to licensed child care programs regarding emergency funding and policies that can help providers and the families they serve remain financially stable during and after the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Maine Children's Alliance 2020 Legislative and Advocacy Priorities
January 30, 2020: For 25 years, MCA has promoted sound policies and best practices to make sure all Maine children have the resources and opportunity to reach their full potential from birth to adulthood. Our priority issue areas include: Early Care and Education; Health, Safety & Well-being; and Family Economic & Food Security.
Annie E. Casey Foundation
October 15, 2019: The Annie E. Casey Foundation is devoted to developing a brighter future for millions of children at risk of poor educational, economic, social and health outcomes.
Zero to Three
October 15, 2019: ZERO TO THREE works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well-being and development.
Alliance for Early Success
October 15, 2019: The Alliance for Early Success is a catalyst for bringing state, national, and funding partners together to improve state policies for children, starting at birth and continuing through age eight.
Maine Women's Lobby
October 15, 2019: For over 40 years, the Maine Women’s Lobby has been an advocate on the issues affecting the lives of Maine women and girls. We work to create a future that is free from violence, free from discrimination, with access to health care, and real economic security.
Right from the Start
October 15, 2019: The Right from the Start Coalition is working to ensure that all Maine children have equal opportunity for healthy development. In short, that means providing early care and education that is accessible and of high quality, from birth to eight, and no matter where families live in our state.
The State of Child Care in Maine: 2019
August 14, 2019: Child care is an essential support for families, allowing parents to work while their children are cared for during this critical period of their development. However, the cost of child care is a significant burden for families—particularly for families with limited financial resources.
Platform for Maine's Children
January 14, 2015: The demands of living in today’s economy also require us to think in innovative ways about how best to maintain and support Maine’s quality of life. We simply must provide working families with the resources they need — access to health care, quality education, jobs that pay — that help them support their and their children’s well-being.
Maine Head Start Report 2013
April 13, 2013: In 2011, an estimated 24.2 percent of Maine’s children under age five lived in poverty and were eligible for Head Start. In 2011- 2012, Maine Head Start served an estimated 28% of income eligible children ages birth to five years old. However, the percent of children being served differs by age. Early Head Start served approximately 11% of the income-eligible infants and toddlers, while Head Start enrolled an estimated 48% of three and four year olds living in poverty.
Maine Head Start Outcomes 2011
December 13, 2011: Head Start provides early care and education, as well as health, nutrition, mental health, social and family support, to low-income families with children from prenatal to five years old.
