Across Harris County, too many parents are struggling to find affordable, reliable early childhood education and care, and too many providers are barely staying afloat under the weight of high costs and complex regulations. The current system is failing families, small businesses, and the economy, a spokesperson for Harris County Precinct 4 said in an April 24 press release. Last week at Harris County Commissioners Court, Commissioners Lesley Briones and Adrian Garcia won unanimous bipartisan support for a first-of-its-kind initiative to address this crisis. The two commissioners jointly placed item on the agenda directing county departments to reduce barriers and strengthen support for early childcare providers and families with young children in Harris County. Guided by the recommendations of more than a dozen community stakeholders, the initiative includes four key actions: ▸ An Early Child Care Business Accelerator to give providers technical assistance and operational support so they can expand and stay open. ▸ An end-to-end review of barriers to streamline county permits, licenses, and inspections. ▸ Coordinated outreach to connect families with scholarships and early learning programs. ▸ State advocacy to push for the policy changes Texas needs. “Commissioners Briones is working to expand access to affordable early childhood education and care by supporting providers, cutting red tape, and pushing for policy changes at the state level,” the spokesperson said in the release.