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ERIC Number: ED616310
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Nov
Pages: 48
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Supporting Families' Access to Child Care and Early Education: A Descriptive Profile of States' Consumer Education Websites. OPRE Research Report 2021-161
Banghart, Patti; Hill, Zoelene; Guerra, Gabriella; Covington, Denise; Tout, Kathryn
Administration for Children & Families
For most families, the process of finding and paying for child care is challenging, particularly for families with low incomes. Access to information about child care and early education options can provide a critical support for families as they engage in the search process. Consumer education can help raise families' awareness about the range of early care and education (ECE) options available. This descriptive study explored the ECE-related consumer education activities described in the FY 2019-2021 Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) State Plans and the types of consumer education information available on states' ECE consumer education websites (i.e., states' official consumer education website, Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) website, and child care search engines). Using a multi-dimensional family centered definition of access, the authors sought to understand how states' ECE consumer education websites support access to child care information. The authors examined the extent to which information is easy to find, addresses affordability, helps parents understand how ECE supports child development, and addresses parents' needs. This study addressed the following two research questions: (1) What is the current status of state ECE consumer education efforts (described in CCDF State Plans and websites) in providing information to families, with attention to the features and information commonly included across consumer education websites?; and (2) To what extent do existing ECE consumer education plans and websites support access to child care by offering useful information and resources for families (operationalized using the family-centered, multi-dimensional definition of access)? [This report was produced through the Child Care and Early Education Policy and Research Analysis (CCEEPRA) project.]
Administration for Children & Families. US Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, Washington, DC 20447. Web site: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Administration for Children and Families (DHHS), Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE); Child Trends
Grant or Contract Numbers: HHSP233201500034I