FOCUS
How can child care and early education promote the health and well-being of immigrant children? Why do some programs meet the needs of children and families while others fail to do so? Using mixed methods, Valerie studies ways in which politics, partnerships, and social policy determine the quality of care received by immigrant children. Answering this question requires looking beyond child care centers to consider family and work support policies, early intervention, and early childhood development, as well as how such connections can promote healthier children, families, and communities. This research promotes the development of more equitable and accessible systems for child development and family support.
MORE ABOUT VALERIE
As a child of immigrants and a former community organizer and policy advocate, Valerie has seen how politics shapes whose needs are met by government programs and whose needs are ignored. She seeks to conduct research that inspires new political strategies and policies that truly address the needs of the most marginalized communities.
