Early Care and Education in North Carolina

Every child in North Carolina should have access to affordable, high-quality childcare.

The American Heart Association advocates for a childcare system that supports children’s health and development.

In the past, we have worked on policies to make sure children in early education settings have access to healthy food, physical activity, and minimal screen time. Now it’s time to do more to strengthen our early care system in North Carolina. Strong childcare programs can enhance educational advancement and create positive economic impact for families and communities. We want to support centers and childcare homes that give young children the best chance to lead healthy lives from a young age.

The first few years of a child’s life are important for a healthy future because of how rapidly the brain develops during that time—forming more than 1 million new neural connections every second according to the Harvard University Center on the Developing Child. Research shows us that high-quality birth-to-five programs can yield a significant return on investment in the long run.

Many children spend a significant part of their day in early care and education (ECE) programs, making these settings ideal for building habits that help children grow up healthy. Young children who are active and eat healthy learn better. Exposing young children to healthy food, like vegetables, is important for the development of healthy food preferences(1).

We also know that high-quality early childhood programs can have a positive impact later in life. According to an issue brief from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, children who participate in early childhood programs are more likely to grow up as healthy adults and have higher earnings. 

Now is the time to advocate for a stronger childcare system in North Carolina. During this legislative session, You’re the Cure advocates are urging the North Carolina lawmakers to strengthen our childcare systems through increased subsidies for high-quality programs and continued pay and benefit increases for our hardworking childcare workforce.

Join us in asking lawmakers to invest in our communities and keep early childcare systems strong!

(1) Tandon PS, Tovar A, Jayasuriya AT, et al. The relationship between physical activity and diet and young children's cognitive development: A systematic review. Prev Med Rep. 2016; 3: 279-90, doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.04.003