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Dear Colleagues:

I'm excited to share new resources and opportunities with you to further our collective effort to build an early childhood system that meets the needs of children, families, and early educators. 

As we celebrate Black History Month, I hope you will take some time to honor and recognize the importance of Black History in early childhood policy and programs. This month, we also take time to honor the countless Black leaders and early educators that have contributed to early childhood policy and services throughout history and continue to do so today. From the unsung heroes in family child care homes and classrooms to those who have occupied Congress and the White House, we are grateful for Black leadership that makes progress in early childhood possible. 

Thank you for all you do to support children and families in your communities. 

With appreciation,

Katie Hamm, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development 

Dear Colleagues:   

 

Best wishes for the New Year! As we begin 2024, our priority at ACF is to support the early childhood sector to meet the developmental needs of children and their families in communities across the country.  

 

We are enthusiastic to collaborate our grant recipients, early childhood providers, and families in this work. Your involvement is crucial in this process, and we look forward to our collective efforts this year. 

Dear Colleagues:   

Happy Holidays! At the Office of Early Childhood Development, we've accomplished so much in 2023, and I can't wait to continue working to make next year one of our best year yet. Before we ring in 2024, I'd like to share some highlights from this past year. 

The Office of Early Childhood Development (ECD) announced new funding totaling $24,500,000 to 34 tribes and tribal organizations nationwide to create culturally grounded, evidence-based home visiting programs. These funds are part of the Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, which help and promote the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska families.  

ECD had the opportunity to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Education on a new joint policy statement supporting the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood programs. The Policy Statement on the Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs updates a 2015 statement. It includes a renewed commitment and urgency as children with disabilities continue to face barriers to accessing and fully participating in inclusive early childhood programs. 

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) also established the National Early Care and Education Workforce Center, the first of its kind in the country. The Center is the result of an investment to fund research and technical assistance for states, municipalities, territories, and tribal countries. This investment aims to promote the recruitment and retention of a diverse and talented workforce throughout early care and education programs.  

The Office of Head Start worked on a supporting the workforce and consistent quality programming: a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that will assist Head Start programs in hiring and retaining qualified educators while ensuring consistent quality programming for the children and families served. The proposed rule would require Head Start educators to be paid at least the same as preschool teachers in public schools. Once fully implemented, this will enhance compensation for Head Start educators. 

Lastly, we are proud of the Biden Administration's work to strengthen our country's child care system. The Administration has urged nearly every agency to use existing funding and programs to improve access to child care through the executive order (EO). The Biden Administration's commitment has resulted in the most comprehensive set of initiatives taken by any administration to date to enhance access to high-quality child care, long-term care, and caregiver assistance.  

We are excited to continue collaboration with each and every one of you as we move into action in 2024, with the goal of prioritizing young children and their families, as well as the early childhood workforce. 

With appreciation,   

Katie Hamm, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development 

ECD July Newsletter, released July 7th, 2022.

Workforce Wednesday E-Blast on Workforce Wellness May 2022

ECD's monthly newsletter

ECD May 2022 Newsletter

Workforce Wednesday E-Blast Newsletter April 2022

December 2016 ECD Newsletter