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Top Takeaways is a series of recaps from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events about early learning.

On July 18, the (BPC), and 聽 cohosted the final part of their event series on (EHS-CCP), a funding initiative of the federal Office of Early Childhood Development.

EHS-CCP funds and equips local child care providers with the materials, services and support they need to provide comprehensive, quality infant and toddler care. We heard from grantees about how they helped local communities stabilize child care partners during the pandemic, expand access to comprehensive services for children and families and strengthen workforce development and retention.

Here are our takeaways:

1. EHS-CCP helped boost the quality of care for infants and toddlers during a tumultuous time. Technical assistance and professional development support were critically important in helping the local chapters weather the pandemic. 鈥淧roviders had to be able to address things like masking with young children, accessing Covid tests or getting families supplies they needed like diapers, toilet paper and food,鈥� explained Dr. Eric Bucher of the (CEP) at Arizona State University.

鈥淭hey modified settings to accommodate safer learning and play spaces, provided up-to-date health and safety guidance related to the pandemic and assisted providers in accessing stabilization funds made available through federal relief dollars.鈥�

2. Increased wages and training efforts pay off. Efforts to increase pay and expand learning opportunities for staff prove helpful for the early childcare workforce. In Phoenix, Mindy Zapata鈥檚 team at helped partners access and direct some of the pandemic funds to 鈥渁ddress wages, credentials and to retrain, sustain and engage new professionals as we鈥檝e all experienced so much turnover in the workforce.鈥�

A similar effort took shape with Judy Williams鈥檚 team at , in the form of a retention and completion bonuses program. 鈥淚t was very motivating to work with our child care partners to help create that program, fund it and have a career ladder with a retention bonus,鈥� she said.

3. It is possible to attract and retain quality early childhood education staff. In Miami, the benefits of the EHS-CCP are apparent. Turnover has decreased by more than 30%, said Gladys Montes, former VP of the . She attributed this impact to competitive compensation as well as hiring, retention and legacy bonuses. Underwriting professional development outside of work hours also helped to reduce turnover.

4. Comprehensive, family-centered care is at the core. Caregivers and kids are equally supported and nurtured in this family- and community-centered dynamic. 鈥淥ur main focus during the pandemic and the months beyond was connection,鈥� Colleen Bosch of said of their work in Montana. 鈥淲e want to maintain the connection between staff and parents in such a time of isolation.鈥�

In addition to smaller group sizes and teacher-student ratios, they incorporated mental, behavioral and developmental screenings and consultations. 鈥淭he model is really about using community connections to ensure that families have what they need, whatever that is,鈥� explained CEP鈥檚 Dr. Shantel Meek.

Parents receive access to resources like professional development and housing assistance. 鈥淭here is not only support for their organizing and advocacy but also for their child鈥檚 development and support for them as people.鈥�

5. The benefits of this investment go beyond those immediately receiving care. In explaining the spillover effect, Zapata said, 鈥淭here is a cost per child that funds the EHS-CCP grant nationally, but the residual benefit to the local community and providers and children served throughout that center is immeasurable.鈥� All panelists agreed that continued and expanded funding is imperative for the larger early care and education system.

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 麻豆精品. Learn more here.