Child Care News
Southern Institute Recognized for Data-Driven Approach to Improving Access to Child Care Financial Aid
April 2006 – The Southern Institute on Children and Families is recognized for its data-driven approach to the development and implementation of action strategies that improve the well-being of families and children. The William T. Grant Foundation invited Sarah Shuptrine, Southern Institute President/CEO, to present on the Southern Institute’s use of data indicators to improve opportunities for families and children at an international conference, named “Studying the Impact of Indicators of Children’s Well-Being on Policies and Programs: An Expert Working Group.” Shuptrine focused on the Action Plan to Improve Access to Child Care Assistance for Low-Income Families in the South, which was released by the Southern Institute and the Southern Regional Task Force on Child Care at the National Press Club in December 2000. Her presentation demonstrated the impact of using data indicators on a regional level to improve access to child care subsidies for lower-income children and families in the South.
Following the conference, Shuptrine was invited to contribute a chapter to a book based on presentations given by experts at the conference. Shuptrine and Nicole Ravenell, Southern Institute Vice President for Operations, co-authored the chapter that appears in the 2006 publication, titled Indicators of Children's Well-Being: Understanding Their Role, Usage and Policy Influence. The book represents a broad range of viewpoints from an international group of researchers and policymakers about how the use of social indicators affects child and family policy, and it discusses the use of indicators as an effective tool to change policy. Although the book is not available online, additional information is available on the publisher’s Web site (http://www.springer.com/sgw/cda/frontpage/0,11855,4-40440-22-81597527-0,00.html).
To learn more about the Southern Regional Task Force on Child Care or the Action Plan to Improve Access to Child Care Assistance for Low-Income Families in the South, please visit http://www.thesoutherninstitute.org/child_care.asp.
Southern Regional Forum on Collaboration and Coordination Across Early Care and Education Programs
The Southern Regional Initiative on Child Care sponsored the Southern
Regional Forum on Collaboration and Coordination
Across Early Care and Education Programs in Washington, DC on
June 25-26, 2003.
The Forum was designed to help participants gain knowledge in:
- Early care and education initiatives that are priorities at both
the state and federal levels;
- States' collaboration strategies on these early care and education
initiatives;
- Federal officials' collaboration efforts on early care and education
initiatives that are priorities;
- Collaboration issues that need further action.
Forum participants heard presentations from representatives of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
the U.S. Department of Education, the Maternal
and Child Health Bureau, State Head Start
Collaboration Directors and other early care
and education experts.
Southern Regional Forum on Collaboration and Coordination Across
Early Care and Education Programs, Program
Agenda, June 25-26, 20003. (pdf)
Early Childhood
Education:A Call to Action from the Business Community,
May 7, 2003. (pdf)
Report Says Cost Still a Significant
Barrier to Affordable Child Care in Southern States, Press Release,
February/March 2002. (pdf)
Affordable Child Care: The Heartpounding Dilemma
for Low-Wage Families
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