ECE QUALITY
In Our Own Backyards: Local and State Strategies to Improve the Quality of Family Child Care 
This report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research finds that programmatic and policy changes are needed to combat the isolation, low earnings, and lack of training opportunities faced by family childcare providers and to improve the quality of such care.
Losing Ground in Early Childhood Education
This study by the Economic Policy Institute and the Keystone Research Center analyzes data from 1979-2004 and shows a substantial decline in workforce qualifications in center-based early care and education (ECE) programs and the even lower qualifications in home-based ECE.
ARCHIVED QUALITY MATERIALS
Learning Community Activities on Quality
Integrating Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Care Into System Building
August 10, 2005
Speakers:
Nina Sazer O'Donnell
Families and Work Institute
Nancy Ashley
SOAR Opportunity Fund
Sandy Myers
Child Care Systems and
Public Policy Resources for Child Caring
Wayna Buch
Good Beginnings Alliance
Gail Upton
Oklahoma Child Care
Resource and Referral Association
Sparking Connections 
is a national consortium and learning community that resulted from work in states and communities by the Families and Work Institute. This conference call profiled the work of 8 sites modeling family, friend and neighbor caregiver strategies, in the context of improving the system for all children and families.
Tiered Quality Strategies in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania
March, 2004
Speakers: Gala Garrett, Program Manager
Oklahoma's Reaching for the Stars
Bob Frein, Executive Assistant
Pennsylvania's Keystone Stars
Thirty-four states have implemented a tiered strategy system as of January 2004, according to the National Child Care Information Center. As the number of states that have implemented these systems has grown, so have the different ways that states have designed their tiered strategies. This conference call profiled the Reaching for the Stars program in Oklahoma and Keystone Stars in Pennsylvania.
Download supporting materials:
Keystone Stars Child Care Quality Initiative
Pennsylvania: Keystone
Keystone Stars Performance
Oklahoma: Reaching for the Stars
Exploring the Complexities of Tiered Quality Strategies
August 19, 2004
Speaker: Judy Collins
State Technical Assistance Specialist
National Child Care Information Center
This conference call provided an overview of the complex issues involved in developing tiered strategy systems. Issues such as accreditation, infrastructure, environmental rating scales and middle levels discussed.
Download supporting materials:
Exploring the complexities of Tiered Quality Strategies 
Tiered Quality Strategies and the Impact on Quality Child Care
Common Categories of Criteria Used in State Tiered Strategy Systems
Tiered Quality Strategies: Definitions and State Systems
Goals and Objectives of State Tiered Strategy Systems
Questions to Ask
Community-Based Doulas
A conference call in honor of Irving Harris
March 10, 2005
Speakers: Phyllis Glink, Executive Director
Irving Harris Foundation
Rachel Abramson, Executive Director
Chicago Health Connection
Nick Wechsler, Assistant Director of Program Development
Parents Too Soon/Ounce of Prevention Fund
Children's champion Irving Harris, who died at the age of 94, was dedicated to supporting the work of community-based doulas. Doulas are committed to helping women have satisfying birthing and parenting experiences, and assist families in providing the safe and healthy environments that are critical to a baby's development.
Download supporting materials:
Community-Based Doulas Fact Sheet
The Outcomes of Using a Doula
First Connections Leave Lasting Impressions
