The benefits of early care and education for child welfare-involved children: Perspectives from the field

Can early childhood education be compensatory? Examining the benefits of child care among children who experience neglect

Children that experience neglect are at risk for maladaptive outcomes. One potential resource for these children is early childhood education (ECE), but there is currently limited evidence which is compounded by data limitations. This study used data from the National Study of Child and Adolescent Well-being II (N = 1,385) to compare children's cognitive and social-emotional outcomes among children involved in child protective services that experienced either no care, informal care, or formal care, as well as moderation by type of neglect. Results suggest that ECE was related to increased cognitive and social skills and decreased behavior problems, depending on whether the child attended informal or formal care, with some associations being stronger for children that experienced neglect. These findings have implications for practitioners and policymakers in the intersection of ECE and child protective services.

A Quantitative Study of Early Childhood Care and Education Services Under the Age of Three: Evidence From Sichuan Province, China

In China, early childhood care and education services for children under the age of three are neglected to some extent. Based on survey data from the Health Commission in Sichuan Province of China, this study analyzes the situation of early childhood care and education services in Sichuan through a qualitative method, using an analytical framework of matching the demand and supply. The findings reveal a mismatch between demand and supply of early childhood care and education services. This gap is likely to have a negative impact on children's self-development, family stability, and even the construction of national early childhood care and education service system. Drawing on the findings, suggestions for improving the mismatch between demand and supply are provided at the state, community and institution levels.