Hunger has emerged as a key issue. within the child care workforce. Of the roughly 1 million child care workers in the country, research shows, 1 in 3 experienced food insecurity.
The $2 trillion House-passed social policy bill includes about $400 billion earmarked for universal preschool and affordable child care and an extension of the child tax credit.
Universal transitional kindergarten will essentially become California’s version of a universal preschool program, available to all 4-year-olds regardless of income.
The key to increasing access to quality child care is professionalizing the field by providing child care staff a livable wage and professional development grounded in emotional competence.