Table of Contents
About this Guide
Introduction
What is Early Care and Education and Whom does It Serve?
Why is Early Care and Education Important?
Types of Child Care Programs in North Carolina
Center-based Child Care Centers
Farm to Early Care and Education
How Can Farm to ECE promote racial equity in our communities?
Connecting to Early Childhood Partners in Your Community
Defining North Carolina Farm to ECE Community Partnerships
North Carolina Partnership for Children (NC Smart Start)
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRNR)
Head Start Community Action Agencies
Directly Connect to Centers Near You
A Note from Agent Quina Weber-Shirk, North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Guilford County
Joining the State and National Farm to ECE Movement
Three Components of Farm to ECE: Gardening, Cooking, and Local Food Purchasing
Component 1: Gardening
Benefits of Gardening with Young Children
Cooperative Extension + Gardening with Young Children
Special Considerations for Early Childhood Programs
North Carolina State Extension Master GardenerSM Program
Agent Spotlight: North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Caldwell County
Do Volunteers or Agents Need a Background Check to visit a Child Care Center?
Component 2: Cooking
Benefits of Cooking Local Food for and with Young Children
Cooperative Extension + Cooking for and with Young Children
Special considerations for Early Childhood Programs
Component 3: Local Food Purchasing
Benefits of Early Childhood Programs Purchasing Local Food
Cooperative Extension + Local Food Purchasing
Special Considerations for Purchasing Local with Early Childhood Programs
Cooperative Extension Agent Spotlight
Diverse, Inclusive, and Equitable Family Engagement Opportunities with Farm to ECE
Engaging Families in the School Garden
Cooking with Children and Cooking Education
References
About this Guide
North Carolina is home to an estimated 4,600 child care centers and over 1,800 child care homes (NC DHHS 2016). Early Care and Education (ECE) programs serve families with children from birth to age six. Early Care and Education serves a pivotal role for families because many children who attend child care eat most of their meals at school. Through Farm to ECE, North Carolina Cooperative Extension agents across program areas can provide important resources and programming for ECE providers and teachers, the families they serve, and local farmers. Local farmers can connect with programs that wish to serve healthier, local meals and snacks to children and can provide education about growing and eating healthy food.
This resource guide was created by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Local Food Program Team’s Farm to ECE Work Group. This guide seeks to:
- explore how ECE programs serve families and show potential collaborations for Extension agents;
- inspire new local collaboration by highlighting successful Cooperative Extension Farm to ECE programs within communities that serve child care programs and their children, families, and teachers; and
- encourage cross-program activities to increase Farm to ECE support from Extension across North Carolina.
We hope this guide will enhance the partnerships among ECE and food system entities within communities, so that Extension can better serve farmers and families. These partnerships have the potential to improve nutritional outcomes for children and communities, and in turn, to increase food and nutrition security.
A young student helps measure a serving of spinach as a part of a cooking activity at La Petite Academy in Raleigh
Introduction
What is Early Care and Education and Whom Does It Serve?
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) defines early childhood education as any part or full-day group program in a center, school, or home that serves children from birth through age six. This includes children with special developmental and learning needs (NAEYC 1993). The definition includes programs in child care centers (for-profit and non-profit), private and public pre-kindergarten programs such as North Carolina Pre-K, Head Start programs, family child care homes, kindergartens, primary grades, and before and after-school programs in elementary schools.
Why is Early Care and Education Important?
High-quality child care, Head Start, and preschool programs help prepare children for school and life success. Children in high quality programs tend to have:
- More advanced language and pre-math skills
- More advanced social skills
- Better relationships with their teachers
- Fewer behavioral challenges
- Easier adjustment to kindergarten
Children from low-income families and those at risk for academic challenges reap the biggest gains from high quality early care and education. These child populations, on average, start kindergarten behind their peers in literacy and language skills (NCECF 2021).
Through high-quality Early Care and Education programs, children also develop positive habits and daily routines, literacy and numeracy skills, and emotional resilience, which can lead to a successful future and a lifelong love of learning (Care for Kindies 2022).
Types of Child Care Programs in North Carolina
Head Start Programs
Head Start is a program of the US Department of Health and Human Services that provides comprehensive, early childhood education, as well as health, nutrition, and parent services to low-income children and families.
Head Start programs are federally funded and are available at no cost to children from birth to age five from low-income families. Programs may provide transportation to the centers so that enrolled children can participate. Families and children who are experiencing homelessness and children in the foster care system are also eligible. In addition, Head Start services are available to children with disabilities and other special needs.
Head Start programs encourage the school readiness of infants, toddlers, and preschool children (OHS 2020). Services are provided in a variety of settings that include centers, family child care, and the children’s own homes. Head Start programs also encourage parents and other key family members to develop positive relationships, with a focus on family wellbeing. Parents participate in leadership roles in the program, which may include providing feedback on program operations.
Family Child Care Homes
A family child care home (FCCH) is a child care arrangement located in a residence where at any time between three and eight children receive care. A family child care home is licensed by the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE).
Center-based Child Care Centers
A child care center is a program where three or more children younger than age 13 receive care on a regular basis, at least once a week, and for more than four hours from individuals unrelated to the children. Child care centers are usually located in commercial buildings. These centers are larger and care for more children than family child care providers. The centers are usually divided into groups or classrooms of children who are similar in age.
North Carolina Pre-K Program
The North Carolina Pre-K Program is designed to ensure that a high-quality pre-kindergarten classroom experience is provided for all eligible four-year-old children in each local North Carolina Pre-K Program and that, to the extent possible, uniform policies exist across the state. Programs are required to operate according to the North Carolina Child Care Rules.
Cherokee Elementary Preschool students help their teacher carry a bag of soil in the garden.
The play area at Pint-Sized Preschool, a Family Child Care Home in Black Mountain.
References
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Center for Environmental Farming Systems. (2020). “Cooking Cart: Resources for Teachers and Providers.” Raleigh, North Carolina: Center for Environmental Farming Systems.
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Publication date: Jan. 19, 2023
LF-20
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