The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is pleased to announce that Dr. Katherine Beckmann has been named National Policy Director. As director, she will lead efforts to protect and advance U.S. policies and systems that support the health, well-being, early learning, and economic opportunity of young children and their families. The Packard Foundation supports partners … Continued
New coordinated effort to strengthen local child care systems and increase access to high-quality, affordable child care in communities that house America’s growing infrastructure workforce. Today at the Department of Commerce National Child Care Innovation Summit, leaders from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Buffett Early Childhood Fund, The Kresge Foundation, … Continued
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Every Mother’s Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate the unique and indispensable role moms and parents play – in our lives, at the center of our families, and across our communities. And as we celebrate them, we also reflect on how our society could better support moms, so they can flourish. In that context, … Continued
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When evaluating the accessibility of a healthcare resource, The Children’s Partnership President Mayra E. Alvarez often thinks of her mother. She asks herself whether her mother, an immigrant from Mexico who raised four daughters, would be able to navigate a specific application form or registration process easily. Growing up in San Diego, Alvarez witnessed firsthand … Continued
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A child’s earliest years set the foundation for a lifetime of health, learning, and well-being. For 60 years, the Packard Foundation has worked to make sure that families have what they need to support their children’s health and development. While our grantmaking strategies have evolved over the years, our work has consistently focused on ensuring … Continued
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Shirley and her husband Jason had a plan for the birth of their baby. When Shirley went into labor, they would go to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. They just hadn’t planned on going so soon. But when Shirley’s water broke just 24 weeks into her pregnancy, confused and worried, they rushed to Packard … Continued
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Raising a family in the United States has perhaps never been more challenging than it is today, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. Child care has become more expensive and more difficult for working parents to secure. The costs for food, housing, clothing, school supplies, and utilities have skyrocketed as the economy shifts and … Continued
Elsa Esparza
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Every day, families across the nation rely on extended family members, friends, and neighbors (often referred to as FFN caregivers) to provide care for their children. These individuals play a vital role in nurturing the well-being of a vast majority of children in home-based, informal settings and are an essential part of today’s childcare system. While … Continued
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The following post, written by Packard Foundation’s Katherine Beckmann, first appeared on June 16, 2021 in The Hill. When I found out I was pregnant with my eldest son, my husband and I celebrated with family and friends — and immediately put our name on waiting lists for child care. Despite our planning, we couldn’t … Continued
Jeff Sunshine
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In 2014, the Packard Foundation launched Starting Smart and Strong, a ten-year place-based early learning initiative in Oakland, Fresno, and East San Jose, California. The goal of the initiative is to significantly improve the quality of adult‐child interactions across all settings to ensure children grow up confident, ready to learn, and ready for kindergarten. Now … Continued
