Pic, Annette2023-10-092023-10-092023https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/33362Families experiencing homelessness with young children under age 3 tend not to engage in early care and education services at the same rate as their housed peers. Young children experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience trauma and stress and are at greater risk for compromised brain development. To help protect against the negative effects of homelessness, increased attention has been given to connecting children experiencing homelessness to early care and education services such as child care, Early Intervention, and subsidy. ☐ Current research examining early care and education service access for families experiencing homelessness tends to focus on families with children age 3 and older. This study sought to fill the knowledge gap by employing qualitative research to develop an understanding of the following: 1) types of ECE services accessed and used by families experiencing homelessness with a child under 3; 2) facilitators that support ECE service access and use; 3) barriers that prevent ECE service access and use; 4) how these families perceive ECE services; and, 5) recommendation these families propose to enable their use of ECE services. The findings from this study provide useful insight into how to improve ECE access and utilization for these families, and better support children and families experiencing homelessness.Child careEarly interventionECE servicesHomelessnessSubsidyYoung childrenThesis1417409651https://doi.org/10.58088/c2gk-0d152023-09-20en