Early Care & Education and Health

In the midst of all the bad news surrounding COVID19, we have good news. For those who want better health outcomes in children, young adults and midlife adults, there is an excellent investment available: quality early care and education (ECE) for low-income children. This investment is highly likely to result in significantly lower health care costs throughout the lifespan.

This paper discusses the importance of an effective partnership between health services and early childhood programs and examines ways that leaders in both service systems can cooperate to help early educators, health care practitioners and parents achieve good health and early learning outcomes for children. This paper recommends and illustrates possible models of partnership between ECE and childcare; and discusses the historical and contemporary benefits of a strong health focus in early child care programs including the many benefits of such a focus.

With average earnings below $30,000, early care and education workers, like most low-income workers, have a higher risk of serious illness if infected with COVID-19. They are also more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 if they are caring for the children of workers in healthcare and other industries. The state of California has received reports of more than 12,000 cases of COVID in child care settings during the pandemic thus far. While those may not be traceable to child care participation (more traceable to extended family participation, especially where extended family are essential workers) it does indicate that early educators have an elevated risk of either coming into contact with an adult or children who have COVID-19. Thus, vaccination is essential to protect these dedicated human beings from this very serious disease.