Will the stimulas plan help children?

**Posts:** 5

RE: Will the stimulas plan help children?

**Posts:** 3

In Canada we have had funding (some) available for early development programs and subsidies(daycare) for a # of years. The programs are wonderful aides in not only school readiness and economical reasons but for social skills and disciplinary lessons as well.

**Posts:** 5

The last couple of weeks have brought tremendous attention to Congress's economic stimulus bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The inclusion of funding for early care and education (ECE) programs indicates a national recognition of the significant return on investment, and the potential job creation benefits that investments in ECE can provide.

The package, as signed by President Obama on February 17 includes the following ECE-related components:

$2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG)
$1 billion for Head Start
$1.1 billion for Early Head Start
$500 million for Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, reserved for children ages 2 and younger

Investing in programs for young children such as CCDBG and Head Start and Early Head Start not only develops the school readiness skills that children need to become productive workers of the future, but also creates jobs in early childhood education. ECE programs also allow parents to work outside of the home, financially support their families and contribute to the economy. In fact, the licensed child care sector allows parents to earn more than $100 billion annually.