Distillation
Buzzwords Explained: Equity in Early Childhood
We know these first three years are critical. We need to ask ourselves, “What are we doing to create opportunities for success?”
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Advancing Racial Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in Early Childhood
Children’s race or ethnicity should not impact their
right to thrive.
right to thrive.
Longstanding policies and systems have created barriers that continue to impact many families and children.
Babies from underserved communities often have fewer opportunities to access high-quality services, affordable child care, and strong early learning programs, which are essential for their healthy development.
Jump To:
More than half of babies being born today are children of color.
Why It Matters
Black and Brown babies have less positive outcomes than their white peers in nearly every metric used to assess early childhood well-being.
If we don’t ensure that all babies have the support they need from the very beginning, the challenges that have affected families for generations will persist.
We must start before birth to create opportunities that allow every baby, including those from historically underserved communities, to grow and thrive.
By the Numbers
A child’s race affects their access to a quality life.
Source: ZERO TO THREE. State of Babies Yearbook: 2022.
Our Impact
We manage a resource library of videos, articles, and training aimed at antiracist parenting, anti-bias training for early childhood educators and equitable advocacy for policymakers.
Our professional development offerings are rooted in diversity-informed practice, which promotes the ability of professionals to respect families’ beliefs and traditions while meeting their unique needs. Through our role within the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning, we focus on the development and implementation of equitable practices in Head Start and Early Head Start settings nationwide. Additionally, our State of Babies Yearbook is a comprehensive, critical tool for advocates to use in showing how race impacts every aspect of a child’s future.
Young children will not fall behind, and the country will be stronger if we offer parents and caregivers a safety net… Justice for children and families is the communal face of love.
Learn more about parenting
for social justice.
Engaging Families in Policy Change
Families’ lived experience gives them critical expertise in the services and support they need for their children to thrive.
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Parenting for Social Justice
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Let policymakers know that for too many generations we have shortchanged babies of color, and it needs to stop now.
The only way we will achieve true racial equity, diversity, and inclusion for Black and Brown babies in the United States is through collective action, particularly from white advocates.
