Research tells us that investments in early childhood education are key to economic prosperity*.  Why? Because the development of children’s brains during their earliest years contributes to success throughout their lives. With high quality care and education, young children are far more likely to have success in school and in life. Without the stimulation provided by attentive adults at home or in child care, a child is more likely to drop out of school, receive welfare and commit crimes later in life.

First Children’s Finance and other leaders are committed to increasing access for children, especially low income children, to high quality child care. But, the reality is that child care is a low margin business, and providers often don’t have essential skills to run their businesses. Sadly, child care centers and home providers open and close with some regularity, reducing the options for families in need.

Our goal is to keep child care enterprises open, full and high quality. To help accomplish that goal, First Children’s Finance is launching the Children’s Chamber of Commerce to mobilize business people who understand the importance of child care to our communities and the economy. By combining the energy and resources of both the public and private sectors, we know we can keep the child care doors open for larger numbers of lower income families.