Skip to content

21-Day Read Aloud Challenge

How often do you read aloud to the children in your care? Reading aloud to young children, particularly in an engaging manner, promotes emerging literacy and language development and supports the relationship between child and parent/caregiver.

Read More

First National ECE Workforce Center Launched

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the launch of the new National Early Care and Education Workforce Center. The ECE Workforce Center is the result of a $30 million investment to support research and technical assistance for states, communities, territories, and Tribal Nations to improve the recruitment and retention of a diverse and qualified workforce across early care and education programs.

Read More

Getting Started with Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE)

Are you interested in using more local foods in your program, but don’t know where to start? Have you heard of Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE)? Farm to ECE offers increased access to healthy foods through local procurement, gardening opportunities, and food and agriculture education activities to enhance the quality of educational experiences. Our partners at the National Farm to School Network have great resources to get you going!

Read More

Experiences of Early Child Care and Education Operators During the Pandemic

Female child care provider leaning over a table helping children with craft.

In December 2022, the Indiana University CACFP Project Team released a report describing the child nutrition and care provision experiences among early care and education (ECE) stakeholders, sponsors, and center directors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted in four states and a variety of ECE stakeholders participated. The study identifies six common experiences among ECE stakeholders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read More

Interactive State Policy Map and Handbook 

Map of the United States indicating Farm to ECE by state

Our partners at the National Farm to School Network (NFSN) have a fantastic resource to help you stay up to date on state-level policies related to child nutrition. Their interactive State Policy Map allows you to see what in your state/territory during the current legislative session for: Expanding Access for All Kids, Farm to School/Early Care and Education (ECE), Values-Aligned Food Procurement and Equitable Producer Support, Scratch Cooking, School Wellness, and Labor.

Read More