Wisconsin was recently awarded nearly $10 million for early childhood efforts. The Preschool Development Grant – Birth to Five (PDG B-5) is a one-year federal grant which allows Wisconsin to complete a needs assessment and a strategic plan to improve our early care system. The grant focuses on addressing pervasive challenges around equity, access, quality, and affordability in early care and education (ECE).

Kids Forward is thrilled at this opportunity to “connect the dots” for children 0-5 all over our state, especially those furthest from opportunity. As we have long pointed out, there are tremendous disparities for kids and families across Wisconsin. We can and must do better for them.

We also have a long history of support for child care teachers, who are woefully underpaid. As part of the grant activities, the state will be looking at ways to improve recruitment, retention, and support of the early care and education workforce. Finding qualified employees and keeping them is often cited as one of the biggest challenges child care providers face. Wisconsin’s plan also focuses on bridging the gap between early childhood and school-aged programming and vulnerable and underserved children.

Kids Forward is very excited that these funds will also support healthy eating. Wisconsin will expand regional knowledge of and access to Farm to ECE to improve young children’s access to local foods; improve nutrition in early childhood; incorporate local foods and snacks in meals; enhance children’s learning opportunities with food (such as cooking and gardening); and engage with families.

Congratulations to the Department of Children and Families on this fantastic opportunity!

For more info (including details on upcoming listening sessions), please see the link below:

https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/childcare/pdg