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$36M federal Preschool Development Grant fuels family advisory council and needs assessment; researchers report search and access challenges for families
Summary
The Department of Early Education and Care said its $36 million federal Preschool Development Grant is funding system-building work including a Family Advisory Council and a statewide needs assessment; researchers presented findings showing many families struggle to find affordable, available child care and often cobble together arrangements.
The Department of Early Education and Care told its March advisory council that federal Preschool Development Grant funding is supporting system-building work — including a Family Advisory Council and a statewide needs assessment — and researchers shared early findings about how families search for and secure child care.
Arjun Shah, project manager for the Preschool Development Grant (PDG), said the $36 million, three-year federal grant (about $12 million per year) is intended to support workforce development, expand access, improve quality and maximize family choice. The agency is in the third year of PDG-funded work and described a mix of pilots, systems design and interagency partnerships funded through the grant.
One PDG project highlighted at the meeting is a Family Advisory Council intended to elevate caregivers’ lived expertise in agency policy and program design. Ayesha (staff lead on the council design) said the council will prioritize representation across regions, languages and family experiences and will include families with lived experience of…
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