APR
2
2025
Public Lecture
Total Registrations: 33
Description
Public Lecture by Samuel Deutsch Professor Julia R. Henly on 2 April 2025
Title
Public Investments in Child Care and Early Education: Alternative Financing Mechanisms to Support Parental Employment, Children’s Development, and the Wellbeing of the Childcare Workforce
Abstract
There is a vexing policy conundrum in the child care and early education field: How do we create an equitable, affordable, high-quality childcare system that serves the needs of working parents, their children, and the childcare workforce? In the United States, where the childcare market is largely private, providers must charge prices that are too high for most working parents, but too low to sustain quality programming for children and good jobs for childcare providers. Public investment is crucial to resolving this paradox, but the allocation of funds – how, to whom, and for what purposes – also requires careful consideration. In this talk, I will discuss alternative financing mechanisms – especially demand side vouchers and supply side grants to programs – and share some of my past and ongoing research that examines the benefits and challenges of both approaches for improving child care access, children’s development, and the wellbeing of the child care workforce.
Speaker's Profile
Julia R. Henly is the Samuel Deutsch Professor in the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice at the University of Chicago, where she serves as Deputy Dean for Research and Faculty Development. Henly’s scholarship aims to advance understanding of the economic and caregiving strategies of low-income families to inform the design and improve effectiveness of work-family policies and public benefits, especially child care policy. She studies precarious workplace conditions and laws designed to stabilize employment and improve worker wellbeing in low-earning jobs. In the child care domain, Henly studies child care financing mechanisms and their relationship to equitable access, workforce quality, and child and parent outcomes. Henly is a Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare and the Society for Social Work and Research. She received her B.A. with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her M.S.W. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Her scholarship is funded through federal and foundation grants and published in peer-reviewed journals, edited book volumes, and publicly distributed policy briefs and reports.
Terms & Conditions
Please purchase a ticket to join the public lecture. Each ticket admits one person. Each ticket cost $20 + 9% GST = $21.80 (inclusive of GST). Tickets sold are non-refundable.
By participating in this public lecture, participants consent to photographs and videos taken by the event organiser and event organiser may use them for marketing and publicity purposes in print, electronic and social media.
The event organiser reserves the right to adjust the programme in any circumstances.
Date and Time
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025 9:30AM GMT+08:00
to
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025 1:00PM GMT+08:00
Organisation
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Contact Email
roseyong@nus.edu.sg
