Early Childhood & family health

WHY

Early childhood health and education are essential for a healthy life and a thriving community because they lay the foundation for physical, cognitive, and emotional development. The majority of children in GAVA’s neighborhoods of focus are cared for by home-based and Friend, Family, Neighbor (FFN) providers. These providers are often left out of public and nonprofit conversations related to early childhood care.

Good health in early years prevents future health problems, while quality education fosters critical thinking, social skills, and a love for learning. Together, they ensure that children grow into healthy, happy adults who contribute positively to their communities. This reduces healthcare costs, increases quality of life, fosters economic success, and strengthens social cohesion.

HOW

GAVA’s organizing team works to fulfill our mission and vision by organizing in early childhood communities alongside parents/families, child care providers, early childhood stakeholders, public officials, and neighbors to ensure that Austin’s youngest community members have the healthiest start possible. We are dedicated to supporting transformative change and uplifting/centering the voices of our community.

• We develop authentic relationships with providers and build power among them by developing their leadership to build peer networks that break isolation, share expertise, and build collective power to advocate for resources, professional development, adequate compensation, and provider-defined efforts to improve the health and well-being of families and children

• We advocate to stabilize the childcare workforce and we recognize this workforce as critical infrastructure to our city.

• We organize around “caring for the caregiver” as we see how often the focus of child care supports and resources gets directed to outcomes for children, without consideration to the health and economic toll this work takes on caregivers themselves, and thus the children they care for. 

• We emphasize essential home-based FFN providers, specifically those who support Spanish-speaking families, due to the critical role they play in supporting Austin’s economy by providing affordable care to working families. FFN care is one of the most prevalent forms of child care with nearly 5.2 million (60%) children in the U.S. cared for by FFN providers.

• We support child care providers in their goals to increase their certification, professional development, and peer networks, through culturally and linguistically responsive and adaptive training and workshops.

Celebrate and Support Our Community Caregivers:

We are excited to announce the publication of our bilingual coloring book, "Carlo, the Superhero Spy," created through a unique collaboration between GAVA and Inspirare Communications. This project was born from our commitment to supporting Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) childcare providers, who play a vital yet often overlooked role in our community. 

Through listening sessions and focus groups with FFN providers, we developed this book to raise awareness about their invaluable contributions and the challenges they face. We invite you to visit our website, download the coloring book for free, and join us in celebrating these unsung heroes.

Together, we can transform the narrative around FFN care and support these essential caregivers.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Stay connected with our ongoing projects and initiatives as we continue to evolve and innovate in early childhood and family health. Together, we can make a difference.

Let’s support caregivers, uplift families, and create a brighter future for our community.

WHAT IS NEW?

Through collaborations with RAPID EC, Inspirare Communications, BCN (Building Comprehensive Network), we are reshaping the landscape of early childhood equity. Our efforts spotlight grassroots organizing and community-led achievements, ensuring that the voices of caregivers and families are heard, valued and centered.

Economic Development Advocacy

Our goal is to stabilize family child care by increasing compensation and subsidies to ensure that affordable childcare doesn’t come at the cost of inadequate wages and instability for providers. We  advocate for supportive policies and lead grassroots efforts to create lasting change. We believe that economic empowerment is crucial for sustainable success in caregiving.

Family Child Care Professional Development

We offer professional development opportunities to equip family child care (FCC) providers with the skills and knowledge needed for long-term success. Our programs are designed to meet the unique needs of community-based caregivers.

ATX EC Grassroots Coalition

Driven by childcare providers, parents, and advocates, the ATX Early Childhood Grassroots Coalition aims to organize the local childcare landscape. By uniting voices from across the community, we are working to create a more equitable and supportive environment for folks who want to support and advocate for children and families.

Bright by Text is an automated texting service that sends tips, games, events, and resources to over 3,000 Travis County parents and caregivers. Parenting can be challenging as little ones develop a mind of their own. Bright by Text helps parents learn positive parenting techniques, and tools they can use to prepare their children for school and life. Visit BrightByText.org to sign up and learn more

Interested in getting involved?

Use the contact form below!