Impact & Influence
WECA centers innovation in all its work to support the early childhood workforce and early care and education in Wisconsin. Check out this page for more information on WECA’s innovation and influence through several impact updates, our blog, Annual Reports, news coverage, and more.
WECA In The Spotlight
Families are ‘drowning’ as early child care programs face widespread staffing shortages (Wisconsin Public Radio)
Jackson County sees success with efforts to combat child care crisis (Wisconsin Rapids Tribune)
Advocacy group shines spotlight on child care need, potential solutions (Wisconsin Examiner)
Early Childhood Education News
The death of a day care: When a child care center closes, an entire community is affected (The 19th News)
Child care industry struggles with shortage of workers (ABC News)
Why You Can’t Find Child Care: 100,000 Workers Are Missing (The New York Times)
Rural communities need federal child care investments (Center for American Progress)
WHAT IS WECA?
WECA is a state nonprofit with significant local reach that supports early care and education in Wisconsin. Watch this video to get perspective from providers, partners, advocates, and WECA staff.
Read the Annual Report!
For more information about WECA’s research and data findings – visit this page.
Good Food at Home Partnership
WECA’s food systems staff collaborated with Partnership for a Healthier America and LifeWays Early Childhood Center to help bring fresh fruits and vegetables to 200 Milwaukee families this past winter. The initiative provided $60 a month in Instacart credits for fresh produce.
“Providing access to these fresh foods can help improve outcomes for children for a lifetime,” shared WECA food systems co-coordinator Catherine Hansen.
Learn more about the project in this video overview (offered in English) and read our recent blog for more on WECA’s commitment to assisting early childhood programs foster positive food environments to help children and families thrive.
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association Blog
A hub of first-hand perspectives, calls to action, program and initiative information and other timely updates.WECA’s Statement on Equity
Because the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) exists to support the wellbeing of young Wisconsin children and our early education workforce, we strongly assert that Black Lives Matter. We all hold responsibility for addressing police brutality, dismantling systematic racism, and equalizing power in our United States. We understand that now is the time to re-imagine what kind of America we want for our children and grandchildren — an America where all children in all communities can live safely – free of bias, discrimination, and racism.
Support for Federal and State Investment in ECE is Mounting
Faced with a pandemic that has shut down the economy, belief that early care and education (ECE) is essential and not expandable is solidifying across the county. This blog post reviews two recent national surveys that examine experiences with and support for ECE during the COVID19 pandemic.
Rights, Raises, Respect: Worthy Wage Day 2020
by Peggy Haack Nearly three decades ago, May 1 became a focal point for a national campaign to raise up the needs of the...
The 2020 Census Part 5: Parent and Kid Resources
As a child care provider, you can play an important role in the Census. You are a trusted voice to the families you work with. By supplying information about the Census, you can help your community understand how important and necessary it is.
The 2020 Census: Part 4 Why Children are Undercounted
Experts are already predicting that children younger than 5 will be significantly undercounted, by more than 2 million kids in some estimates. It’s important to count young children accurately now so they have the resources they need for years to come. For every child not counted, our state loses $2000 a year for 10 years. That’s $20,000 per child. Just imagine the profound impact that could make.
The 2020 Cenus: Part 3 FAQs and Myths
Because the census only happens every 10 years, there is often misinformation and outright wrong information given out...