Home » Resources » Grow Your Own ECE: An Introduction

Grow Your Own ECE: An Introduction

This brief explores the transformative potential of Grow Your Own initiatives in strengthening and sustaining the early care and education (ECE) workforce. These community-driven, equity-centered strategies are designed to cultivate a diverse, well-qualified, and sustainable pipeline of ECE professionals by nurturing the talents and aspirations of individuals from within their own communities. The brief covers the essential elements of Grow Your Own initiatives, explains how they can center equity through specific policies that empower participants and confront injustice, and offers broad guidance for beginning to implement Grow Your Own strategies as a solution for recruitment and retention challenges.

Related Resources

All Resources

Early Childhood Workforce Index 2024

This report, developed by the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, provides a state-by-state look at policies and conditions […]

Published 2024

Early Care and Education Workforce Salary Scale Playbook: Implementation Guide

This implementation guide from the National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance guides readers through five actions that are essential to creating […]

Published 2024

Grow Your Own ECE: ECE Program Leader Reflection Tool

This tool is designed to help early care and education (ECE) program leaders and Child Care and Development Fund administrators […]

Published 2024

Related Key Topics

Compensation & Financial Relief Strategies

Initiatives and investments to ensure compensation equal to the value of early educators’ work

Qualifications & Educational Support

Policies and pathways that provide consistent standards for educators to achieve higher education