Raising children is more than just a family matter. Especially in rural America, the resources parents and children have or lack access to play a significant part in setting children up for future success. Heidi and Joel hear from North Carolina Representative Ashton Clemmons about the economic and social strain on American families in the search for accessible and affordable childcare. Karen Ehrens joins later to speak about the importance of understanding the role diet plays in childhood development and education.
Rep. Clemmons is an educator and advocate for improvement in the education system. Her background in teaching and experience as a parent bring insights into the economic impacts of the childcare crisis on the families it directly affects as well as on the national economy, and why investment in early childhood education is critical.
Karen Ehrens is the Director of Legislative and Govenment Affairs at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. As a registered dietitian, she offers a vital perspective on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, and why childhood nutrition impacts us all.