Virginia Archives - Early Learning Nation

American Rescue Plan Act Funds Are On The Way to Help Child Care Providers – But Will it Be Enough?

Blacksburg, Virginia has money allocated to give child care providers a much-needed pay boost, but for some it may be too late.

Rebecca Gale·Aug 8, 2023·9 min read

Lourdie believes she has found her life’s work as a child care worker. She loves her work in the infant-toddler...

States, Time to Step Up on Child Care

Elliot Haspel·Mar 1, 2022·8 min read

Elliot’s Provocations unpacks current events in the early learning world and explores how we can chart a path to a...

5 Top Takeaways from the Town Hall: How Richmond VA Is Approaching Reopening

Mark Swartz·Jul 14, 2020·2 min read

The trauma of COVID-19 is widespread but not evenly distributed. Some communities are suffering more than others. The Commonwealth of Virginia has seen encouraging numbers lately, but of course it is not out of the woods. A recent Town Hall for Richmond-area parents featured...

Voices and Visions for Transformative Change from Child Care NEXT

Mark Swartz·Aug 16, 2022·9 min read

Child Care NEXT, a new initiative of the Alliance for Early Success, supports diverse coalitions in states “ready to mount...

Unite/Disrupt/Transform with Child Care Aware of America

Mark Swartz·Apr 15, 2022·2 min read

Child Care Aware of America’s Symposium brings together individuals from across the country to discuss research, policy and practices related...

5 Top Takeaways from Catalyzing Connections: Promise Venture’s Latest Entrepreneur Showcase

Mark Swartz·Jun 17, 2020·3 min read

Because we can’t take our Early Learning Nation Studio on the road during this time, stay tuned as ELN recaps...

5 Top Takeaways from the Conversation: “How to Safely Reopen American Playgrounds”

Mark Swartz·Jul 10, 2020·3 min read

Because we can’t take our Early Learning Nation Studio on the road during this time, stay tuned as ELN recaps...

Virginia (Finally) Embraces Kinship Care

Mark Swartz·Apr 16, 2024·5 min read

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 3% of U.S. children are in kinship care. This could be an aunt...

Research Study: Perception of Neighborhood Safety Can Shape Infant and Maternal Outcomes

K.C. Compton·Mar 12, 2024·6 min read

Sometimes the barriers that keep a pregnant person from seeking prenatal care and all the benefits that accrue to mother...

Virginia is for Childcare Solutions

Smart2Start = 1 Application for Almost 150 Providers

Mark Swartz·Feb 26, 2020·2 min read

Virginia’s Roanoke Valley, anchored by its namesake city in Southwest Virginia, is a considerable distance from the economically booming area...

5 Questions for the Governor: Virginia’s Ralph Northam

The Editors·Jan 5, 2021·5 min read

Access to quality early childhood education is essential to the long term health and well-being of our children, it is also an investment in the workforce of the future. Virginia is ranked #1 in the nation for business and we know the only way to maintain that status is to support the leaders of tomorrow.