About this session

Friday, 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

One Size Does Not Fit All: Connecting Diverse Families with ECE that Meets Their Needs

This symposium addresses the pressing need to tailor support to meet the unique needs of diverse (including socially, linguistically, dis/ability, and residentially-diverse) families who are seeking early care and education (ECE) for their children. Family and child needs are varied, so understanding and accommodating these differences is essential for promoting equitable access to quality ECE.

The four studies explore the unique challenges faced by families with differing social, linguistic, dis/ability and housing needs. The first paper employs a market research design (conjoint analysis) to uncover the childcare preferences of foster parents and uncovers barriers foster parents face in searching for and accessing ECE. The second paper surveys local child care subsidy workers in four states with large Hispanic populations, revealing barriers to assistance and highlighting the need for improved communication and streamlined processes. The third paper examines the difficulties families of children with disabilities face in accessing early intervention, advocating for a more family-centered approach and clarifying misconceptions. Finally, the fourth paper utilizes a mixed-methods approach to identify barriers and supports for enrolling children experiencing homelessness in ECE.

Collectively, these studies underscore that a one-size-fits-all approach is inadequate in meeting the diverse needs of families. With findings that point to the benefits of collaboration among community agencies and prioritizing family engagement, this symposium aims to inform policy and practice improvements that ensure all children have access to high-quality ECE experiences.

Paper #1
Title	Understanding Foster Parents’ Experiences Searching for and Accessing Early Care and Education
Presenting author	Nancy Perez, SRI Education

Paper #2
Title	Local Program Subsidy Staff Perspectives on US Latino Families’ Access to Child Care Subsidies
Presenting author	Julie Mendez Smith, University of North Carolina Greensboro

Paper #3
Title	Family Perspectives on Seeking Early Intervention Services for Infants and Toddlers
Presenting author	Margaret Gillis, SRI Education

Paper #4
Title	Connecting Young Children Experiencing Homelessness with Early Care and Education Programs
Presenting author	Barbara DeBaryshe, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

View all paper details

Session chair
Dr. Sarah Pedonti, Ph.D., Western Carolina University, United States

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