Resources

Resources for business leaders:

Video channel of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation
Providing leadership to Virginia’s Smart Beginnings initiative and advancing school readiness throughout the Commonwealth.

• Economic Impact Study for South Hampton Roads at http://www.smartbeginningsshr.org
• An Economic Impact Study of the Childcare and Early Education Industry in South Hampton Roads.
• Workforce Study for South Hampton Roads at http://www.smartbeginningsshr.org “Who’s Caring for Our Children? A Profile of the 2005 Workforce in Licensed and Voluntarily Registered Centers and Homes in South Hampton Roads, Virginia.”
• Committee for Economic Development at http://www.ced.org Information on the economic impact of early care and education.
• National Scientific Council at http://www.developingchild.net Combines cutting-edge, interdisciplinary scientific knowledge on early child development to impact public decision-making.
• Families and Work Institute at http://www.familiesandwork.org A non-profit, non-partisan research resource that studies the changing workforce and how it affects the workplaces, families and communities.
• Virginia Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (VACCRRN) at http://www.vaccrrn.org A statewide network of 14 locally-based child care resource and referral agencies which assist parents in finding child care that meets their family’s particular needs.
• National Economic Development and Law Center at http://www.nedlc.org/Programs/divisions_cyf_childcare.htm NEDLC believes that creating access to affordable, quality child care is a key strategy in building sustainable local economies.

Download and distribute the Community Connections Resource Guide (PDF)

Annie E. Casey Foundation: www.aecf.org
Established in 1948, the AECF has worked to build better futures for disadvantaged children and their families in the United States. Their mission includes public policy, human services reform and community support to meet the needs of today’s vulnerable children and families.
 
Child Trends: www.childtrends.org
An independent, non-partisan research center dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families.
 
Educational Productions, Inc.:  www.edpro.com 
Enhancing the lives of children by increasing the skills, sensitivity and awareness of adults who work with them.
 
Getting Ready: www.gettingready.org
Multi-state initiative that uses child well-being indicators to change agendas in states and local communities, improving school readiness and ensuring early school success.
 
Harvard Family Research: www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp
The Harvard Family Research Project has helped develop strategies to promote the educational growth, social successes, and well-being of children, families and their communities.
 
High/Scope Educational Research Foundation: www.highscope.org
Independent, non-profit research, development, training and public advocacy organization—website includes long-term results of the influential Perry Preschool Project.
 
National Association for the Education of Young Children: www.naeyc.org
The nation’s largest and most influential organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children birth through third grade.
 
National Association of Childcare Resource & Referral Agencies: www.naccrra.org
NACCRRA works with more than 800 state and local agencies to ensure that families in every local community have access to high-quality, affordable child care. Includes information from their recent study on state standards for child care quality rankings.
 
National Institute for Early Education Research: www.nieer.org
The Institute supports early childhood education initiatives by providing objective, non-partisan information based on research.
 
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child: www.developingchild.net
Combines cutting-edge, interdisciplinary scientific knowledge on early child development to impact public decision-making that impacts the lives of young children.
 
Pre-K Now: www.preknow.org
A national public education and advocacy organization that advances high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all three- and four-year-olds.
 
Promising Practices Network: www.promisingpractices.net/programs_outcome.asp#ready
Promising practices for school readiness highlights effective programs and credible research on Early Care and Education, including the Perry Preschool Project and the Chicago Parent-Child Centers.
 
The Center for Law and Social Policy: www.clasp.org/publications.php?id=3#0
Research publications from The Center for Law and Social Policy on Childcare and Early Education.
 
Virginia Tech Full Report on Evaluation of Pre-K Pilot Initiative: Virginia Tech Report on Evaluation of Pre-K Pilot Initiative
Document Summary: Virginia Tech Report Summary
Expanding VPI will depend to a great extent on the resources and good will of non-profit child care programs. 61% of children in pilot programs are served in not-for-profit settings.
 
Zero to Three: www.zerotothree.org
National non-profit dedicated to advancing the healthy development of babies and very young children. Tips and information to help parents educate themselves and participate in dialogues through electronic discussion groups on specific topics.