Latest Reports

This report urges for an integrated system of early care and education to help children, beginning at birth, to be able to read by the end of third grade.

This issue brief explains the importance of keeping smart early childhood programs intact. The brief notes that states should budget wisely in order to protect valuable and effect early childhood programs, such as home visitations, pre-K, parent-mentoring programs, quality child care, etc.

Some of the report highlights include: 69,589 children received subsidized child care services in Connecticut; 20,720 children and their families received monthly financial assistance from the Care 4 Kids program; 10,149 preschool children participated in the School Readiness Program;  4,336 children, ages 1-12, participated in the State-supported Child Care Center Program; Approximately 8,000 early caregivers participated in the statewide training offered through the Training Program in Child Development;

The purpose of the survey is to provide a "snapshot" of the availability of child care in Connecticut and the number of children served. Licensed and licensed exempt child care programs are surveyed to verify if they are currently operating, the ages served, capacity, vacancy and enrollment based on full time equivalents.

The following report shows the impact the current economy is having on child care program vacancies and capacity, and the increase in the number of family child care providers who have turned to child care as a means of employment.

This link brings you to the analysis of CT Voices for Children's newsbrief on the impact the Governor's proposed FY 2011 budget will have on children. The Governor’s budget calls for an estimated net $74.9 million reduction in funding for a variety of services that have a clear and direct impact for children, youth and families. Among the biggest changes, the Governor has recommended that a reduction of 12% ($11.5 million) be made to the 2011 budget for Care4Kids, reducing total funding to slightly over $84.4 million.

Two budget documents are attached that lay out President Obama's budget plan for 2011, including $989 million for Head Start, Early Head Start and expanding/reforming early care and education.

In June 2009, House Speaker Christopher Donovan formed a legislative task force to study the impact of the recession on children. Connecticut is the first state to do this. The first quarterly report gives a summary of what has been found thus far as the task force has met. It includes a section on early care and education, as well as unemployment, homelessness and nutrition.

Cutting effective early care programs, especially in economic downturns, hurt states. Investments benefit states and this issue brief by the Pew Center on the States explains why.