Utah Coalition for Protecting Childhood (UCPC)
Strategy 3
Strategy 3: Provide quality care and education early in life.
Approach 1 - Increase access to early childhood/preschool education and enrichment opportunities
- Increase awareness of and participation in affordable, quality preschool options through organizations like Waterford Upstart and Head Start.
- Educate business owners and engage employers as part of the information pipeline to connect working parents to affordable, quality preschool programs.
Approach 2 - Increase uptake of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at home, and in all educational settings statewide
- Increase parental engagement in SEL within the school setting.
- Provide parents with the support and education they need to understand and implement SEL principles within their homes.
- Partner with the Utah State Board of Education to increase awareness of the long-term benefits of SEL on child health, education, and opportunity outcomes across the lifespan.
Approach 3 - Improve the quality of child care through licensing and accreditation
- Support the Department of Workforce Services, Office of Childcare, and other partners working to improve the implementation of a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for all childcare programs.
- Educate business owners and engage employers as part of the information pipeline to connect working parents to affordable, quality childcare.
Key strategy partners
Waterford Upstart
Utah Board of Education
Department of Workforce Services
DHHS Office of Child Care Licensing
Head Start
Data guide to efforts
These strategies align well with strategies/recommendations of the following agencies’ plans:
VIPP: "Encourage social norms that promote safety and health IGP: Continue investment in improving early childhood program quality."
IGP: "Continue investment in improving early childhood program quality."
DHHS: "Improve outcomes through individual and family involvement, inter agency collaboration, public/private alliances and community support."
OUR: "Provide more support for childcare offices and programs, including a review of licensing requirements."
VIPP: Violence and Injury Prevention Program at the Utah Department of Health.
IGP: Intergenerational Poverty Commission at the Department of Workforce Services.
DHHS: Department of Health and Human Services.
OUR: One Utah Roadmap.
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