A Systematic Review of Barriers to and Facilitators of Early Learning and Childcare Among Black Children and Families in Canada and the USA

Early Learning and Childcare (ELCC) services are essential social determinants of a child's well-being. However, many barriers exist within the ELCC climate of Canada and the United States of America (USA), limiting marginalized communities' access to quality ELCC services. The objective of this systematic review is to investigate the barriers and facilitators that influence access to adequate ELCC for Black children and families. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 55 studies were reviewed to examine common barriers and facilitators in accessing ELCC services for Black and racialized families living in Canada and the USA. The barriers and facilitators identified were grouped into four themes: familial context, types of care, socioeconomic factors, and cultural competence. The factors of parental involvement, access to formal ELCC services, income level, parental educational level, parental employment, cultural competence, and racism emerged as either barriers or facilitators depending on their existence and direction of influence. The reviewed studies discussed the impact of parental employment, specifically, maternal employment, on whether a child is enrolled in an ELCC program. The results of this study can advise ELCC service providers and policymakers in making the ELCC climate more equitable specifically for Black and other racialized communities.