Childcare in Crisis: Mental Health and the Preschool Expulsion Epidemic

Childcare is an essential service. Through the pandemic, early childhood educators endured intense financial pressure and coronavirus risk to support children through a formative stage in development. In an already under-resourced profession, such strain leads to increasing numbers of teachers feeling they have no alternative but to expel a child when faced with behavioral challenges exacerbated by the pressures of the pandemic. Soaring rates of early childhood expulsions and their disproportionate negative effects on marginalized communities are testimony to an industry at breaking point. The provision of funding mental health supports such as Early Childhood Mental Health Counseling and resources to early childhood educators is essential if we are to support those most vulnerable in our society.