Citation URL: http://www.urban.org/MarthaZaslow

Use of early care and education (ECE) is a reality for many families with young children. Research shows the importance of the early years for children’s development, and suggests that high-quality ECE can be particularly important for children from low-income families. In addition, the U.S. invests billions to support ECE. This paper assesses the patterns of ECE utilization by low-income families, the implications for children's development of the extent and quality of ECE participation, the evidence on the quality of ECE that low-income children receive, and the policy context that shapes ECE. It concludes by laying out key policy considerations.

Previous research using the 1999 National Survey of America's Families (NSAF) found few differences in developmental risk between children in families who were currently receiving welfare and those in families that had formerly received welfare. This paper reports on new NSAF analyses revealing a pattern in which male adolescents in the families of former recipients may be faring worse than their counterparts in the families of current recipients. Differences in family characteristics, such as income, family structure, and parental employment, did not account for the elevated levels of developmental risk found among adolescent boys in former recipient families.

According to data from the 1999 round of the National Survey of America's Families, 3.3 million 6- to 12-year-old children regularly take care of themselves without adult supervision. Seven percent of children ages 6 to 9 and 12 percent of low-income children are in self-care. Self-care is more likely among 10- to 12-year-olds and children from higher-income families. Parents' full-time employment and parental symptoms of poor mental health are related to an increase in self-care for both younger and older children. The presence of teenagers in the family is related to an increased likelihood of self-care only among younger children. A limiting physical, mental, or health condition is related to a decreased likelihood of self-care only among younger children. Full-time employment and an increase in a child's age are related to an increase in self-care for both low- and higher-income children. In both income groups, Hispanic children are less likely to be in self-care than other groups.

By the time they enter kindergarten, most children have already had experiences with a variety of nonparental caregivers in either home-based or center-based child care settings. Children’s use of and experiences in early care and education are influenced by a variety of interrelated family and community factors, including the quality and availability of care.

This Snapshot summarizes findings from the 1999 NSAF on measures of children's family environments (as reported by their parents) for 13 states and for the United States as a whole. It compares the family environments of low-income children (those living below 200 percent of poverty in 1998) with those of higher-income children (those living above 200 percent of poverty). It also compares the family environments of children in single-parent versus two-parent families. Finally, changes that have taken place since 1997 are identified.

While children represent the majority of welfare recipients, surprisingly little is known about welfare reform's possible effects on their well-being. This brief applies findings from evaluations of past welfare-to-work programs and broader research on children and families to identify the specific provisions of welfare reform that are most likely to affect children.

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