Article Link: http://stage.exchangepress.com/article/federal-agencies-keep-early-childhood-in-focus/5019662/
On September 29, Congress adjourned and members headed home to their states and districts for the final weeks before Election Day. They plan to return to Washington, DC, on November 15 to finish the business of the 111th Congress, including final determinations of funding for key early childhood programs (see ‘Congressional Update’).Meanwhile, federal agencies and offices have important and exciting early childhood efforts underway. Staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and within it, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) �" which manages both the Child Care and Development Fund and the Head Start program, among other initiatives �" and the U.S. Department of Education have been hard at work. These agencies not only distribute funding to the states, but also provide critical guidance, resources, and information to state agencies, which in turn work directly with program providers like you (See ‘Federal Agency Resources’).
Child care
Just a few weeks ago, the Administration for Children and Families elevated the importance of child care policy work by creating an Office of Child Care. This is great news! The Office of Child Care is at the same administrative level as the federal Office of Head Start and has an ...