Excerpts from the report:
Quality early childhood interventions have been shown to improve performance in school, lessen the learning risks associated with low income and enhance parents' childrearing and coping skills.
Family supports are also linked with greater success down the road as measured by high school completion and paid employment. These supports are estimated to reduce child abuse by as much as 50 percent and stave off the lifelong consequences of abuse. Similar programs help prevent aggressive behaviour among young children often associated with failure in school, and subsequent delinquency and criminality.
From an economic perspective, high-quality affordable child care enables labour market participation, and education and training. It can make the difference between a below- and above-poverty line income for many single parents and couples. High-quality affordable child care is a good economic investment in light of the many sectors facing severe labour shortages.