From the People’s Emergency Center (http://www.pec-cares.org):
The Building Early Links for Learning (BELL) program released its 2022 infographic comparing rates of early childhood program participation for young children staying in Philadelphia emergency and transitional shelters covering periods before and during the pandemic. The key learning is that families with young children in shelter continue to face considerable challenges finding support and enrolling in early childhood programs, especially high-quality programs.
What is BELL?
BELL is a program that aims to promote resilience of young children in emergency and transitional housing by improving the developmental appropriateness of shelter while also connecting young children to early childhood programs. BELL works with shelter and early care and education systems across Philadelphia to build connections and support families.
What are the key findings?
During the pandemic, caregivers were less likely to discuss early childhood programs with shelter staff, and less likely to be enrolled in an early childhood program, especially high-quality ones.
Where does the information come from?
The findings document rates from the 12 months immediately before and 12 recent months (April 2021 through March 2022) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The information comes from families who stay in shelter at least 30 days. Families meet with shelter or BELL staff to discuss early childhood programs and share their wishes. Families also tell staff if their child is enrolled in an early childhood program and, if so, the name and address of the program. BELL staff add information from the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services, from the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning, and other sources to know what proportion of families were served and the quality of the early childhood programs they attend.
What do the findings mean?
Restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic have affected all education and health and human service systems, and how families in need were able to seek support. BELL is no exception. Nevertheless, BELL continued and adapted its key activities to help shelters support early development despite pandemic restrictions. For example, early childhood program fairs, staff trainings, and stakeholder meetings all shifted to remote events. Meanwhile, BELL added new activities to help families in shelter adapt to pandemic restrictions, such as helping provide internet access, early childhood enrichment activities, and constant updates on ECE precautions.
Our recommendations for now and in 2023 are:
- Shelters need to communicate regularly with local high-quality early childhood programs to help families access limited capacity.
- Shelter agencies must prioritize the varied developmental needs of young children despite competing demands.
- Shelter staff should reinforce the value of early childhood programs using a trauma-informed approach.
- Leaders in early education need to make systemic reforms to increase outreach, education, and enrollment of children in shelter and other homeless contexts.
A longer report will be published next month.
Read or download the infographic here: https://www.pec-cares.org/uploads/2/9/3/9/29391481/bell-infographic_final_10_10_22.pdf
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