Zero to Three

   Zero to Three (http://www.zerotothree.org/) is an excellent source and a wealth of knowledge; I go on this site every week to find out what is new and the current news, September 2010. This week I went directly to the “Down load of the week” tab. This is current information and the pamphlet is titled, Expanding Access to Early Head Start: State Initiatives for Infants and Toddlers at Risk (http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/pdf/expanding-access-to-ehs-paper.pdf). This is always an ongoing issue with early childhood education. This pamphlet tells about how research shows that young children growing up in poverty experience poorer health, developmental delays, learning disabilities, hunger, and are reported in more cases of neglect than their peers. This can result in becoming non-successful in school and less likely to become productive adults.

   Despite the difficult economical times 23 states have at least one initiative that builds on federally Early Head Start funded programs. Out of these states nine have initiatives that have extended the day or year of services, nineteen have expanded the number children and pregnant women served, and two states provide assistance and resources to child daycare providers. This is definitely taking steps in the right direction and a start in providing the assistance and programs needed for the growing demand for this progress.    As proven by these states currently implementing these (EHS) initiatives, hopefully more states will follow in the efforts of making this program available to more infants, toddlers and families. However I am very sad to say Kentucky is not one of these states listed in the initiative progress.

Resource

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/. Retrieved on October 12, 2012.