Research Topic

Early Care and Education

Children’s early care and learning experiences set the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being. CCFP researchers study young children’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs and how early care and education providers can best meet those needs. Our teams develop, implement, and evaluate innovative programs and strategies to foster optimal development in early care and education settings.

Latest Research

Journal Articles

Children’s Emotion Word Knowledge is Associated with Adaptive Emotion Regulation: Links to Family-Level and Child-Level Factors

These findings align with constructionist theories underscoring the importance of emotion word knowledge for the development of emotion regulation skills and begin to shine light on how family contexts might support children’s development of emotion word knowledge.

learn more about Children’s Emotion Word Knowledge is Associated with Adaptive Emotion Regulation: Links to Family-Level and Child-Level Factors
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Katie Rosanbalm

Associate Research Professor
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Kenneth Dodge

William McDougall Distinguished Professor of Public Policy Studies
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Elizabeth Snyder-Fickler

Senior Research Scientist
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Nicole Lawrence

Senior Research Scientist
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Preschool Development Grant: Child Care Deserts & Family Care Providers

Project Description Family child care homes (FCCHs) are an important part of the early care and education system in North Carolina. While they make up only about a quarter of licensed care providers, they provide a critical service especially to families that work non-traditional hours, reside in rural communities or speak primary languages other than…

learn more about Preschool Development Grant: Child Care Deserts & Family Care Providers
learn more about Preschool Development Grant: Child Care Deserts & Family Care Providers

North Carolina Infant Toddler Cost Feasibility Study – Parent and Provider Panels

Together with the Child Trends, researchers from CCFP are gathering feedback from parents and providers on what they think makes a high quality early care and education environment for infants and toddlers.

learn more about North Carolina Infant Toddler Cost Feasibility Study – Parent and Provider Panels
learn more about North Carolina Infant Toddler Cost Feasibility Study – Parent and Provider Panels

Families & Communities Rising Evaluation

CCFP researchers are working with Families and Communities Rising to select, implement, and evaluate a school readiness assessment at their Head Start sites across Durham and Orange Counties.

learn more about Families & Communities Rising Evaluation
learn more about Families & Communities Rising Evaluation

Preschool Development Grant, Birth Through Five – Needs Assessment

Together with the Hunt Institute, researchers from CCFP are implementing a collaborative partnership to support NC DHHS’ Division of Child Development and Early Education in completing updates to North Carolina’s Preschool Development (Birth Through Five) Needs Assessment, including information on the impact of COVID-19 on the child care and early education experiences of children and families.

learn more about Preschool Development Grant, Birth Through Five – Needs Assessment
learn more about Preschool Development Grant, Birth Through Five – Needs Assessment
February 28, 2025
Journal Articles

Developmental Monitoring and Promotion in Home Visiting: a Qualitative Study of Parents and Providers

Evidence-based home visiting programs are one avenue for developmental monitoring and promotion. In this study, parents and providers from three home visiting programs were interviewed to understand the ways in which home visiting engages in developmental monitoring and promotion.

learn more about Developmental Monitoring and Promotion in Home Visiting: a Qualitative Study of Parents and Providers
February 20, 2025
Policy Briefs

Family Child Care Homes’ Challenges Participating in Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program: Voices from the Field

This brief synthesizes what researchers learned from family child care home providers and other key system stakeholders regarding the challenges associated with child care subsidies and the downstream impacts on child care slots within the state.

learn more about Family Child Care Homes’ Challenges Participating in Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program: Voices from the Field
February 20, 2025
Policy Briefs

Regulatory Challenges Faced in Opening and Operating Family Child Care Homes: Voices from the Field

This brief synthesizes what researchers learned from family child care home providers and other key system stakeholders regarding the regulatory challenges associated with opening and operating family child care homes.

learn more about Regulatory Challenges Faced in Opening and Operating Family Child Care Homes: Voices from the Field