BUILD Initiative

What can states learn from the nation's first universal child care program?

New Mexico's experience shows that expanding access is only one piece of the puzzle. Lasting impact requires investing in families, the early childhood workforce, and the systems that support them.

This reflects BUILD Initiative's mission to help states and communities strengthen early childhood systems so young children and families can thrive.

Read more: https://hechingerreport.org/lessons-from-nations-first-universal-child-care-program/

Children are a part of all of our lives. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, a policymaker, a health care provider, or simply someone who cares about young children, the research on the prenatal-to-3 period is worth understanding.

The most rapid period of growth for the human brain occurs in the earliest years of life, and the conditions children and families experience during this window appear to affect all future learning, behavior, and health. Research tells us that safe, stable, stimulating, loving interactions between an infant and a parent or caregiver promote optimal brain and body development in the first 3 years of life. Yet too many infants and toddlers do not experience these environments, and approximately 1 in 6 children under age 3 in the United States lives in a family with income below 100% of the federal poverty level.

Our Center's updated brief explores what decades of research tell us about why these earliest years matter.

Explore the Brief: https://bit.ly/4lRLzNd

In case you missed it - we just announced three more episodes of CAYL Catalyst!
Head to our website to register for free:
https://cayl.org/upcoming-webinars/

Child care providers and early educators are vital not just to families, but also to Minnesota's and North Dakota's economies and communities. Check out the comments section for links!

Read the report: https://acnj.org/national-kids-count-data-book-2026/. How are children and families faring in New Jersey? Do these rankings reflect your lived experiences in the Garden State? The recently released 2026 Data Book from our partner Annie E. Casey Foundation uses trusted national and state data to measure child well-being across four domains: economic well-being, education, health and family and community factors.

Check out these ECE job opportunities near you!

▪️ Postdoctoral Research Associate https://uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UVAJobs/job/Charlottesville-VA/Postdoctoral-Research-Associate_R0083063

▪️ Early Childhood Policy Manager
https://zerotofive.org/join-our-team/

▪️ Director of Institutional Partnerships
https://smallmagic.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Small-Magic-Director-of-Institutional-Partnerships-JD.pdf

Five years after the pandemic, pre-K enrollment has recovered — in some states. In 22 others, fewer children are enrolled today than in 2019. That's not a recovery. That's a divide." Read the brief: https://nieer.org/research-library/state-pre-k-enrollment-pre-post-pandemic

In Case You Missed It!

On November 5, 2025, ICE agents apprehended Diana Santillana, an early childhood teacher, outside a daycare in Chicago, traumatizing the children present.

In January 2026, five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were detained by ICE while walking home from preschool in Minnesota, causing Liam to become hypervigilant. These incidents highlight the negative effects of harsh immigration policies on young children, regardless of their immigration status. Families and providers can take steps to mitigate these impacts.

Read the blog: https://buildinitiative.org/resource-library/immigration-enforcement-trauma-at-an-early-age/

This National Family Month, BUILD Initiative is proud to support state and community leaders working to wrap families in the care they need - from prenatal health to quality child care to family engagement in early learning. Because when systems work FOR families, everyone thrives. 🌱

Explore our Community & Family Engagement resources: https://buildinitiative.org/resource-library/?_topics=community-and-family-engagement