Susan F. Allen

A community initiative to support family financial well-being

Many community initiatives focus on workforce participation. Research indicates that affordable childcare is key to maintaining employment for low-income parents in the USA. These parents may also benefit from instruction to build financial literacy skills. The United Way of Tampa Bay, Florida, USA implemented a program to support family economic status that linked summer childcare for school-age children with financial literacy classes. Results from the evaluation of the initiative indicate that it enabled parents to participate more fully in work or school than would have been possible otherwise. Parents welcomed choices of free, innovative childcare programs that promoted social, academic, and cultural skills and provided safe care for their children. Parents reported that their money management knowledge and skills improved due to the course they took to qualify for childcare. Initiatives such as this show promise for promoting family financial well-being and an engaged workforce.

Early childhood education and care content for the social work curriculum.

Social workers are poised to play an important role in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings; however, they need the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful contribution. This article presents learning activities that infuse ECEC content, centered on the following four areas for social work education: (1) history of the profession, (2) observation of current practice, (3) culturally competent service delivery, and (4) advocacy to enhance social justice. Through this infusion of content, social work educators can better prepare their students for the growing field of ECEC practice and for social work practice more broadly.