Promoting Access to Social Supports and Resources Throughout COVID-19 for Latine Families with Young Children

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

COVID-19 led to greater awareness and exacerbation of existing systemic inequities experienced by Latine families, particularly regarding the accessibility of social services and child care. Pandemic-related disruptions occurred that resulted in decreased stability and economic well-being among families which can have implications for young children’s development and parental employment (Chen et al., 2021; Zamarripa & Roque, 2021). This symposium’s four papers highlight social supports, services, and family resources that promoted the well-being of Latine families with young children despite challenges prompted by COVID-19. The first paper investigates disruptions COVID-19 had on access to child care subsidies and how local staff in North Carolina made adjustments to offer flexible practices that better accommodate Latine families. The second paper draws on survey data from Californian subsidy staff to understand COVID-19 impacts on families’ access to subsidized child care, and identify staff recommendations for improving CCDF service delivery. The third paper draws on in-depth interviews from Latine community-based organizations in North Carolina to examine adaptations made to connect families with resources, and the degree of administrative burden when seeking to apply for government assistance. The fourth paper examines protective factors that can mitigate social and economic pandemic-related risks on the family functioning of low-income Latines and their young children. This set of studies drawing from three different locations provides important recommendations for how social services and outreach efforts can be adapted to more equitably promote the accessibility of important resources and support Latine families’ well-being as they continue to navigate pandemic impacts.

Sub Unit

• Solicited Content: COVID-19 Related

Chairs

• Christina M Stephens, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

• Ireti Aderayo Adegbesan, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Individual Presentations

• Staff Perspectives on Engaging Latinx Families in North Carolina’s Child Subsidy Program During COVID-19 - Presenting Author: Abigail Palmer Molina, Erikson Institute; Danielle A Crosby, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Julia Mendez, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Christina M Stephens, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Rosy Gonzalez, University of North Carolina Greensboro

• Latine Families’ ECE Access During Covid-19: Californian Subsidy Staff Perspectives on Disruptions, Adaptations and Recommendations - Presenting Author: Christina M Stephens, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Ireti Aderayo Adegbesan, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Danielle A Crosby, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

• Community-Based Organizations as Resource Brokers for Latinx Families in North Carolina during Covid-19 - Presenting Author: Julia Mendez, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Kevin Ferreira van Leer, University of Connecticut; Yasmin Torres, University of North Carolina Greensboro; Maricela Porras Velazquez, California State University at Sacramento

• Child Care Disruptions and Other Risks on the Functioning of Latinx families: Promotive and Protective Factors - Presenting Author: Natasha J Cabrera, University of Maryland - College Park; Minxuan He, Mount Saint Mary’s University; Yu Chen, New York University School of Medicine; Stephanie M Reich, University of California - Irvine