The Political Will to Improve Early Childhood Systems

As I studied my resources this week, I noticed several strategies that the different organizations use to improve early childhood systems. The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) a national, nonpartisan, anti-poverty nonprofit advancing policy solutions for low-income people was one of these organizations. CLASP is driving important policy change that helps poor and low-income people, including expanding access to post secondary education and workforce training; improving jobs through paid leave and fair scheduling; providing affordable, high-quality child care and early education; increasing education and employment for youth of color; and strengthening programs to help meet basic needs (The Center for Law and Social Policy, 2010). CLASP support policies that expand resources for child care and early education initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels. They also study the relationships between child care subsidy systems, Head Start and Early Head Start, state pre-kindergarten programs, and other birth to five early education efforts, to advance ideas that ensure these systems address the full range of needs of children and families. 

Their work provides high-quality child care and early education that can build a strong foundation for young children's healthy development and ensure that children have all they need to thrive. This knowledge is the driving force for CLASP to promote policies that support both child development and the needs of low-income working parents. Which is the part that appeals most to me. We have to help those who are not able to support themselves, but we also have to ensure that what we are doing benefits the whole child.

Reference:

Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). (2010). Retrieved from http://www.clasp.org/