Prof. Ha Shares Expertise on Policy Decisions to Improve Early Care and Education

Early care and education (ECE) can play a significant role in the health and behavioral outcomes of children. However, low-income families face many barriers to high-quality ECE, widening the gaps between social groups that cause inequities throughout a person’s life. Prof. Yoonsook Ha from BU School of Social Work recently shared her extensive research on how state policies can better support access to high-quality ECE for low-income families at the Boston College Institute of Early Childhood Policy.

Prof. Ha’s presentation “Enhancing Equitable Access to Early Care and Education: Insights on Child Care Subsidies” explained how she evaluated a subsidy program meant to increase access to ECE by bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to develop, test, and implement policies on early childhood development. As part of her research, she consulted with ECE providers to learn about their experiences, what constitutes quality care, and what type of support providers need to offer such care in a subsidized manner. 

Ha’s research has focused on uncovering gaps in social policies that can help institutions support vulnerable populations by understanding their needs. Previously, she was awarded a grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to analyze how states can better support providers who offer subsidized ECE services. She is the principal investigator for the studies, “Quality of Subsidized Child Care Providers and Children’s Care Stability: Implications for Early Educational Outcomes” and “Evaluation of the Relationship Between Massachusetts’ Child Care Subsidy Payment Policies and Access to Care.”

Learn More About Prof. Ha’s Research