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
Survey: Only half of Wisconsin’s child care slots are affordable for Families (Wisconsin Public Radio)
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 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.
Wisconsin Providers Recognized at the 2019 Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation Awards Ceremony
Recently, 50 early childhood teachers across the country traveled to historic Philadelphia for the 2019 Terri Lynne Lokoff...
Explore the “Wonder of Learning” with Friends!
by Peggy Haack, WECA Outreach Coordinator Have you seen the internationally acclaimed Reggio Emilia traveling exhibit, The...
Teaching in a New Era- What Do We Know About Using Technology in the Classroom?
by Paula Drew, WECA Conference Team and Former Executive Director at Discovery Center Join us this year at the annual WECA...
3 Essential Steps to Helping Your Family Become Sensible Digital Users
by Paula Drew, WECA Conference Team and Former Executive Director at Discovery Center A while back I was reading a news...
Maria Hernandez: Making a Magical Classroom, One Plastic Bottle at a Time
Some of our favorite moments at WECA involve meeting amazing providers who go above and beyond in their work. Maria...
Early Childhood Education Wins When We Vote!
by Paula Drew, WECA Research and Policy Analyst I have been voting for 20 years. I don’t have an idyllic memory of the...