The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) launched the State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (SECCS) Initiative to improve systems of care for young children. Early Care and Education (ECE) is one of five critical components in the initiative because early experiences set the foundation for future learning. ECE's importance continues to grow as parents of young children spend more time in the workforce. About 41 percent of children under age five spend 35 or more hours per week in non-parental care. The notion of child care as a passive process has changed in response to research on the role of early experience in life-long learning. It is no longer meaningful to distinguish between ECE settings that emphasize nurturing and those that promote learning. All ECE settings have a role in promoting development, safety, nurturing and dependable relationships, and interactions that promote learning. ECE settings should provide safe and healthy learning environment that can support cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development; information to parents about positive parenting practices; and linkage between parents, ECE, pediatric care, and other community resources. This brief explains the importance of ECE quality and access for the SECCS Initiative, the potential roles for ECE in a more comprehensive, family-oriented service system, and strategies for the SECCS Initiative. It has been adapted from the full report entitled "Building Community Systems for Young Children."