Blog & News
Stories are powerful. Stay connected to WECA’s impactful journey through our blog and news coverage.
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)
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association Blog
A hub of first-hand perspectives, calls to action, program and initiative information and other timely updates.
Let’s Cook! Wee Chefs-Big Results: Sunny Strawberry Kiwi Smoothies
Our recipe for March was Choose your Own Smoothie (p. 67).
My cute and savvy kitchen team whipped up Sunny Strawberry Kiwi Smoothies on a cold and rainy March morning.
Impact and Gratitude: Reflections on the Food Program During CACFP Week
Across the nation, CACFP has helped feed millions and millions of children and adults since its inception in 1968. In Wisconsin, its impact continues to be wide-ranging: In 2021, WECA’s Food Program has helped family child care providers serve more than 2 million meals to 5,000 young children in 550 child care programs across the state. The WECA Food Program proudly serves all 72 counties and 11 Tribal nations in Wisconsin.
State’s investments in child care are essential, timely
High-quality, affordable and accessible child care is critical. Wisconsin parents know it, business and community leaders know it and child care professionals know it. The state legislature’s Joint Finance Committee recent approval of a $194 million investment in our child care infrastructure means Wisconsin policymakers also continue to recognize child care’s critical importance.
Good Food, Good Partnerships: Multi-sector collaboration addresses food insecurity
Good Food for All. That was the goal – and it was achieved.
This recent 12-week pilot program assisted families in the Madison and Milwaukee areas with receiving a weekly stock of fresh produce. The initiative was truly a special tribute to the power of innovative collaboration between the early care and education sector and food systems.
The State of Wisconsin’s Early Care and Education Workforce
WECA announces the release of its recommendations brief, “The State of Wisconsin’s Early Care and Education Workforce,” in response to key findings of the Series of Studies of the Wisconsin Early Education Workforce, published today by the Department of Children and Families. To read the full brief, click here.
Build Back Better: An exciting opportunity on the horizon
We are on the precipice of a timely opportunity in Wisconsin and the United States – an opportunity to completely transform the early care and education landscape through the Build Back Better bill making its way through the U.S. House and Senate. We’re incredibly...
State Licensing and Technology Hurdles and Success within WEESSN
The Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network (WEESSN) is a fast-growing alliance of over 135 early care and education programs (center-based and family child care homes) across Southern Wisconsin. This network launched with two rural ECE programs in January...
A Love Letter to Wisconsin Educators
The Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) would like to take a collective pause to thank the tireless efforts of those working in the education field, particularly the early care and education workforce before another pandemic school year starts. During the past 18 months of incredible challenge, there have been essential educators and caregivers in every corner of the state who have shown up for Wisconsin’s children and families. This is and will forever be one of the most important roles a person can play in shaping the future. Our communities could not function, nor families prosper, nor children thrive without the effort our educators and caregivers bring to their profession each and every day. Educators and caregivers of Wisconsin – we see you; we appreciate you; and we are fighting for you. Our friends here at WECA wanted to share their love letters to you below. Put your feet up and bask in the admiration we have for you.
Infrastructure Budget Update
Where are we in the federal budget process? It’s complicated. Let’s start with what is known for certain. Fiscal year 2021 ends September 30, which means that either Congress needs to approve annual appropriations bills for FY2022 before September 30 or enact an...
WEESSN Set to Expand Services Across Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network (WEESSN), connecting center-based and family child care programs together to collaboratively tackle challenges that face the sector, is expanding its reach. This network has been active since January of 2019,...