Establish an on-site child care center
For many families living below the NPPS, accessing stable and quality child care is often prohibitive of taking steps to rise out of poverty.
Utilize your membership and your role in the community to build a dynamic, affordable child care center. Assess your ability to provide flexible hours and a free or sliding scale service.
To get started:
Perform a needs assessment by surveying local providers and community members to ensure there is an unmet need for child care.
Determine your target demographic and identify their unique needs.
Research state and county child care guidelines, including licensing, environmental safety, staffing, and mandated reporting requirements, as well as which entities can operate centers.
Apply for child care grants in your state and county.
Design age-appropriate curriculum.
Best Practices / Innovative Programs
The Moore Community House Early Head Start program in Biloxi, Mississippi provides early childhood education and health and family support services to low-income families that are expecting or have a child from 0 to 3.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) publishes research-based resources on developmentally-appropriate curriculum. It is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. Their goal is to help all young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential.
