# Work and Health among Early Childhood Education Workers in Washington State

> **NIH ALLCDC R21** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $206,012

## Abstract

Abstract
The estimated 2.2 million U.S. workers employed in early childhood education (ECE) represent
a highly vulnerable working population. ECE workers are potentially exposed to myriad health
risks on the job including infectious disease, musculoskeletal strain, and high levels of stress. In
addition, ECE workers are among the lowest paid occupations, have few job-related benefits,
and are disproportionately young women. Aiming to improve early education, education-related
fields have recently focused significant attention to this workforce in terms of job demands, low
pay, and prestige. However, there is a glaring paucity of comprehensive research on the health
status of the ECE workforce, the prevalence and characteristics of poor working conditions they
confront, and associations between the two. Importantly, the health and safety of ECE
environments might contribute to the effectiveness of the workforce in serving young children's
best interests. Leveraging expertise and resources from local partners within state government,
community-based organizations, and early education research, we are uniquely positioned to
conduct the most comprehensive assessment of the working conditions and health status of the
ECE workforce to date. Using a WA State-wide survey, supplemented by on-site observational
data, we will describe the working conditions and health status among ECE center workers. We
will further conduct exploratory analyses of the relationships between work exposures,
demographic characteristics, context (e.g., urban/suburban/rural differences), socio-
demographic characteristics, and health outcomes. Integration of the findings from the broad-
based survey and in-depth characterization of individual centers will provide both a
representative and granular assessment of the industry.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10018614
- **Project number:** 5R21OH011623-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** NOAH S SEIXAS
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $206,012
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10018614

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10018614, Work and Health among Early Childhood Education Workers in Washington State (5R21OH011623-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10018614. Licensed CC0.

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