Building Strong Foundations: The Early Childhood Report Charts a New Path for Poughkeepsie's Youngest Learners

August 1, 2022 - The Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet has released a comprehensive Early Childhood Report examining the landscape of services, supports, and opportunities for children ages 0-5 in the City of Poughkeepsie. The report reveals critical gaps in early childhood access and lays out a roadmap for transformation.

The data tells a compelling story: for every 13 infants in Poughkeepsie, there is only one spot available in a licensed child care program. The city's capacity for serving its youngest residents falls far below state averages, ranking in the bottom quarter of New York municipalities for infant care availability. Beyond access challenges, the report highlights the early childhood workforce crisis, where educators earn wages that place them in the bottom 2% of all professions nationally, with 44% relying on public assistance.

Yet this report is about more than identifying problems; it charts a course for creating a coordinated citywide early childhood system that ensures every child enters kindergarten ready to learn and thrive. Through innovative financing strategies, cross-sector partnerships, and targeted family engagement, the report's recommendations offer actionable steps toward building the comprehensive prenatal-to-five system Poughkeepsie's children deserve. Read the complete Early Childhood Report to explore the full findings and discover how the community can work together to transform early childhood in Poughkeepsie.