Babies, Toddlers, and Systems that Support Them and Their Families Webinar
States and communities are advancing innovative ways to support critical facets of infant and toddler development as part of their early childhood systems focus. The leaders participating in this webinar highlighted their systems approaches, their leveraging of resources, and their ideas for the future. Speakers drew on their work overseeing a statewide Early Head Start-Child Care partnership; a multi-county integrated health and wellness initiative that includes mental health, family engagement and systems integration; and a community initiative focused on thriving babies that brings together services, system, community and family level strategies.
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Leading an Early Childhood Team Through the Quality Improvement Process
Article October 7, 2026
Published in Young Children, this 2024 article provides an operational guide for aligning state QIS requirements with broader national standards, quality grants, and staff incentives.
Much-Needed Changes in Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement Systems Should Promote Equity
Blog October 7, 2026
Blog authors Gina Adams and Danielle Ewen outline systemic flaws in traditional models. This 2024 blog details how traditional QRIS frameworks often inadequately support parents, underinvest in actual center improvement, and inadvertently exacerbate funding inequalities among diverse childcare providers.
Four Trends in Early Care and Education Quality Rating and Improvement Systems
Fact Sheet October 7, 2026
This 2024 brief evaluates Parent Aware (Minnesota's system) and synthesizes interviews across six states (Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington). It identifies critical, modern pathways for administrators looking to overhaul and redesign state frameworks.