Early Childhood Initiatives

Harris County Early Childhood Initiatives division was established by Harris County’s Commissioners Court in 2022 as a priority and area of focus for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds provided to the county as covid relief. Currently our division works with community partners to support programming that revolves around 5 focus areas:

1. High Quality Affordable Child Care via access to programming.
2. A Thriving Early Childhood Educator Workforce through work and professional development opportunities.
3. Vulnerable Populations afforded equitable opportunities.
4. Parent Education through utilization of programs and practices that promote healthy early childhood development.
5. Data and Analysis via utilization of resources and opportunities to inform Early Childhood stakeholders of critical information. 

For information about each program being implemented to support these 5 focus areas visit our ECI Portfolio page.

Harris County produced a guide to Opening Childcare Centers to give new providers a clear overview of the licensing, safety requirements, and permitting steps needed to open a childcare center in Harris County. By outlining what to prepare and the most efficient sequence, the guide helps providers plan ahead and avoid common delays.

Click to download this guide on Opening a Childcare Center in Harris County to get started and stay on track.