Defining and Measuring Jewish Engagement among Families with Young Children: Brief 2 (Lessons Learned)

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Publication Description

As part of a major study exploring the associations between Jewish early care and education (ECE) and involvement in Jewish life, henceforth called the CASJE ECE Project,1 a research team led by Child Trends conducted site visits in three targeted communities within metropolitan areas to identify best practices utilized by Jewish ECE programs for engaging parents with young children in Jewish life, and best practices for overcoming barriers to engagement. This research brief offers seven key lessons learned from in-depth interviews and focus groups with key informants across the three communities: Chicago, IL, Seattle, WA, and Greater Washington, DC. We offer implications and action items for Jewish ECE educators, directors, and administrators focused on meeting families’ needs, including accommodating busy schedules and providing supports for children with special needs. We also make recommendations for , funders, institutional policymakers, and community members to target recruitment, training, and retention of competent ECE staff. Finally, we argue for greater participation in local and state quality initiatives, because parents consider the quality of the ECE program when choosing where to enroll their child. Details of the methodology used for the site visits can be found at the end of this brief.

Primary Author
Mark Rosen

Secondary Authors
CASJE
Child TRENDS

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Publication Year
2020

Publication Date
March