Here you can find organizations, updates and advocacy tools related to the Children's Defense Fund's early childhood development and care policy work.

Early Care and Education Resources

Center for Law and Social Policy

Child Trends

Urban Institute

National Women's Law Center

National Association for the Education of Young Children

National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies

National Child Care Information Center

Child Poverty

Kids Count

National Center for Children in Poverty

National Poverty Center

U.S. Census Bureau

Children's Health

American Academy of Pediatrics

Kaiser Family Health Facts

National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

National Institute of Mental Health

CDF Director of Early Childhood Development Joins Senators in Announcing Bill to Help Children in Disasters

Dr. Cathy Grace, Director of Early Childhood Development at the Children's Defense Fund, joined Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) at a press conference to announce the introduction of the Child Safety, Care, and Education Continuity Act of 2010. Learn more about this vital legislation, which addresses the needs of children in the event of a catastrophic disaster, and watch video of the press conference.

Making Connections: Real Child Health Reform for Young Children

Are you curious about how the health reform proposals might affect early childhood development and how you can help? See Real Child Health Reform for Young Children.

Investing in Early Childhood to Reduce Child Poverty

Every 34 seconds, a child is born poor in America. Poverty can disrupt children's development and negatively impact their educational advancement, their ability to lead productive lives and become responsible citizens. And yet millions of young children feel the effects of poverty every day. Find out more about the effects of poverty on young children and how you can lend your voice for America's most vulnerable.

Making Connections: Health Coverage, Early Childhood Dental Care and Education

Each year, children miss over 51 million hours of school due to preventable dental-related illness. Learn about the importance of health coverage and early childhood dental care for the development of our nation's children with this story about one-year-olds Michele and Jacob.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Early Childhood Education and Child Care Resources Available in Your State and Community

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama helps alleviate the stress on families and communities by investing in improvements for a range of needed services and supports, including services for early childhood education and child care. Learn what is available in your state and community and how to use these funds to invest in early childhood education and child care by visiting the Child Care, Head Start and Early Head Start section of our guide, The New Economic Recovery Law: Resources to Help Children and the Economy.