Examining whether access to early care and education in Dade County, Fla., intersects with access to other social services for family self-sufficiency

The Foundation's Equity-Focused Policy Research initiative was designed to commission up to 20 research grants that: (1) explore disparities in access to and participation in early childhood care and education supports (10 total) and nutrition supports (10 total) for families with young children (birth to 8 years), including potential policy solutions and innovations; (2) contribute to the evidence base, a cohesive body of research that suggests policy solutions to reduce barriers families face in accessing and participating in early childhood care and education supports and nutrition supports; and (3) disseminate research findings through briefs, peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and other communications vehicles as appropriate.The purpose of this study is to examine policy initiatives that seek to increase equitable access to high-quality early care and education (ECE) as ECE overlaps with other service systems (access to nutrition, affordable housing, and family income supports); the study will use administrative integrated data systems (IDS) and local and state partnerships. This mixed-method study will focus on a recent investment from the Children's Trust of Miami-Dade in a two-generational model, Thrive by 5 (TB5). TB5 intersects with health, nutrition, and family income supports. Child-care mapping tools and cross-sector integrated data systems will be used to address the following questions: Q1. How have changes in access to supportive social services for low-income families been influenced by local policy implemented through TB5 that builds on state-level initiatives to expand and improve ECE? Is provider and family use of TB5 supports resulting in more-equitable access and participation in Dade County, FL.? We will adapt the Florida Index of Child Care Access, a geospatial analytic tool, to identify community-level patterns of child-care demand/supply, using historical data. Q2. How does access to ECE intersect with access to nutrition supports or other income supports for family self-sufficiency? The grantee will link administrative data from Q1 to family-level data from the Florida Department of Children and Families (SNAP and TANF). Q3. How are various policy designs and implementations either improving or hindering access to supports for families and children? What viable improvements need to be made? Deliverables will include monthly meetings with RWJF's program officer, annual and final reports, and publications for dissemination.