Examining the Relationship Between Care Quality and Stability Among Children Using Child Care Subsidies

• In Event: Early Childhood Policy across States

Abstract

Promoting early care and education quality is a central goal of the child care subsidy policy. However, limited research has examined subsidy-related quality practices, differences between center- and home-based providers, and their implications for care stability, a key concern for subsidized families. Guided by the structural-process quality framework, this study analyzes survey data from 1,549 providers and administrative data from 9,552 children to understand the relationship between program quality and care stability. Three findings emerge: (1) providing care during subsidy disruptions helps reduce care instability across settings; (2) professional development supports stability in home-based care; and (3) family engagement efforts in centers may be associated with greater provider changes. Findings inform improvements in quality evaluation systems for subsidized programs.

Authors

• Yilin Wang, Boston College

• Yoonsook Ha, Boston University

• Juliann Nicholson, Boston University

• Briana Le, Boston University