Automobile Access

Bike Lane Access

Traffic Volume

Transportation

Diesel Particulate Matter

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

Ozone

Clean Environment

Park Access

Tree Canopy

Neighborhood

Above Poverty

Employed

Per Capita Income

Economic

Census Response

Voting

Social

Insured Adults

Healthcare Access

Homeownership

Housing Habitability

Severely Cost Burdened Low-Income Homeowners

Severely Cost Burdened Low-Income Renters

Uncrowded Housing

Housing

Bachelor's Education

High School Enrollment

Preschool Enrollment

Education

Outdoor Workers

Supermarket Access

Two Parent Households

Library Access

Safe Drinking Water

Public Transit Access

Decision Support

Every child should have the chance to learn, grow, and thrive. Early childhood is a crucial period for brain development, shaping nearly every aspect of one’s future health and wellbeing.

 Quality preschool is important for healthy development, and has been associated with lifelong educational, economic and health benefits.

 Quality preschool is associated with a 40% higher rate of graduating high school, higher college attendance and grade retention, and lower placement in special education programs.

 Yet preschool is not universally required in Utah. Therefore, many children arrive to elementary school behind in school-readiness—increasing the likelihood that they will remain behind throughout their education. Education is linked to increased life expectancy and reduced chronic disease rates, infant mortality and other negative health outcomes. Education contributes to health in many ways: high school graduates are more likely to find quality jobs with living wages and decent working conditions; school-based learning contributes to the knowledge and cognitive skills necessary to make healthy choices; and students learn social and physiological benefiting skills including problem solving, teamwork, self-control, social support, and life skills. 

This indicator measures the percentage 3 and 4-year olds in school.

Early learning needs assessment tool. American Institutes for Research. (2010). Retrieved from https://www.air.org/project/early-learning-needs-assessment-tool

The University of Utah. (2017, December 31). Early childhood services study. Utah Education Policy Center. Retrieved from https://jobs.utah.gov/occ/EarlyChildhoodServicesStudy.pdf

Park, E., Alker, J., & Corcoran, A. (2020, December 8). Jeopardizing a sound investment: Why short-term cuts to Medicaid coverage during pregnancy and childhood could result in long-term harm. The Commonwealth Fund. Retrieved from https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2020/dec/short-term-cuts-medicaid-long-term-harm

The far-reaching benefits of the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2020, October 21). Retrieved from https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/chart-book-the-far-reaching-benefits-of-the-affordable-care-acts-medicaid-expansion

Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. (2022, May 16). Children's health coverage in Utah. Children's Health Care Report Card. Retrieved from https://kidshealthcarereport.ccf.georgetown.edu/states/utah/#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20recent%20report,the%20states%20in%20the%20nation

Schweinhart, S., Montie, J., Xiang, Z., Barnett, W. S., Belfield, C., & Nores, M. (2005). The high/scope Perry Preschool study through age 40. Retrieved from https://nieer.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/specialsummary_rev2011_02_2.pdf

Jelleyman, T., & Spencer, N. (2008). Residential mobility in childhood and health outcomes: A systematic review. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 62(7), 584–592. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2007.060103

Cohen, R., & Wardrip, K. (2009). Should I Stay or Should I go? Exploring the Effects of Housing Instability and Mobility on Children. Center for Housing Policy. Retrieved fromhttps://mcstudy.norc.org/publications/files/CohenandWardrip_2009.pdf

Gilman, S. E., Kawachi, I., Fitzmaurice, G. M., & Buka, L. (2003). Socio-economic status, family disruption and residential stability in childhood: relation to onset, recurrence and remission of major depression. Psychological medicine, 33(8), 1341–1355. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291703008377

Harvard University Center on the Developing Child. (2010). The foundations of lifelong health are built in early childhood. Retrieved from https://developingchild.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Foundations-of-Lifelong-Health.pdf

Morrissey, T. (2019, April). The Effects of Early Child Care and Education on Children's Health. Health Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20190325.519221/full/

United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2010, October). Occupational employment and wages, 2009. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/oes/chartbook_2009.pdf

Bassok, D., & Doromal, J. (2022, January 5). How can we improve early childhood education? Use public dollars to pay teachers more. Brookings. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2022/01/05/how-can-we-improve-early-childhood-education-use-public-dollars-to-pay-teachers-more/

Huynh, M.-P., Baksh, L., Varner, M., Debbink, M., Satterfield, R., Stone, N., Gero, A., & Algarin, B. (2015). Severe maternal morbidity, 2013-2015. The Utah Department of Health. Retrieved from https://mihp.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/Severe_Maternal_Morbidity.pdf

National Partnership for Women & Families. (2022, February). Paid leave means a stronger Utah. Retrieved from https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/resources/economic-justice/paid-leave/paid-leave-means-a-stronger-utah.pdf

Utah State Legislature. (2020). Paid leave amendments. The State of Utah. Retrieved from https://le.utah.gov/~2020/bills/static/SB0207.html

The Pew Charitable Trust. (2011, October). The business case for home visiting: Smart investments that support children, parents, and a growing economy. PEW Trusts. Retrieved from https://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/pcs_assets/2012/hvbusinessleadersbrieffinalpdf.pdf

Improving preschool enrollment requires a range of policies designed to improve access to early childhood education and wellness, and to ensure that community conditions support healthy development.

The preschool and childcare system in Utah is fractured, expensive and difficult to access for many families, particularly low- and moderate-income households. To address these conditions jurisdictions should 

 by supporting affordable and universal opportunities for preschool and early childhood education. Infancy and early childhood are crucial periods for brain development, and children need parental care and additional support for healthy development.

 with programs targeting the needs of young children and caregivers.

Even the best childcare and education programs cannot be successful without attention to the broader community conditions that shape child development and health. Jurisdictions should 

Foster Community and Parent Participation

 to ensure that education and childcare systems are responsive, relevant, powerful, and integrated with broader community transformation initiatives. They should also seek broader 

 to address the root causes of poor health such as economic opportunity, safety and stable housing.

Support healthy development with programs targeting young children and caregivers.

Health

Equity

Strong Evidence

Insurance Coverage for All Kids

Free Development Screening

Sufficient Evidence

Caregiver Protections

Home Visiting Programs

Support affordable and universal opportunities for preschool and early childhood education.

Universal Low or No-Cost Preschool and Childcare

Transitional Kindergarten

Promising

Outreach Campaigns

Workforce Development and Retention

Impact/Linkage Fees 

Engaged communities and families ensure that education and childcare systems are responsive, relevant, powerful, and integrated with broader community transformation initiatives.

Policy Guide

Preschool Enrollment

Early Childhood Wellness

Create Opportunities for Early Learning

Foster Community and Parent Participation

Community Transformation