Kids First Communities
KIDS COUNT's Kids First Campaign is the first statewide effort to unite parents, childcare providers and community leaders in support of better childcare.
The campaign is being led by six newly-created Kids First Communities. Their mission is to raise awareness about the need for better childcare and build strong support for a childcare quality rating and improvement system. This system will give parents the information they need to make good childcare decisions, childcare providers the supports they need to improve their quality and communities the highest rate of return on their investments in young children. KIDS COUNT is anticipating legislation in 2009 that will create and fund the voluntary quality rating and improvement system.
During 2008, the Kids First Communities will 1) communicate the importance of high-quality childcare programs to the state's future, 2) provide a forum in which local communities can address local childcare quality issues, and 3) bring parents, childcare providers and community leaders together to advocate for a childcare quality rating and improvement system.
KIDS COUNT recently selected six non-profit organizations to serve as regional "Kids First Leaders" and is awarding each of them a $5,000 grant and extensive technical support to carry out their mission. Each of the Kids First Communities must secure $5,000 in local funds to match KIDS COUNT's grant.
The Kids First Leaders are:
Kids First Boone-Clay-Kanawha-Putnam
Kanawha Early Childhood Committee of Regional Family Resource Network
Contact: Diane Hughes, 304-595-5521
Email: DCHughes@KCS.Kana.K12.WV.US or d_c_hughes@yahoo.com
Pictured from left to right: Lisa Ertle, Michelle Baranaskas, Diane Hughes and Sharon Midkiff
Kids First Cabell-Wayne
Cabell-Wayne Early Childhood Council
Contact: Judy Kachelreis, 304-429-6167
Email: jkach1@aol.com
Pictured from left to right: Carlotta Gee, Susan Miller, Jeannette Barker, Shirley Topeka and Judy Kachelreis.
Kids First Mid-Ohio Valley
Children's Home Society
Contact: Steve Tuck, 304-485-0650
Email: stuck@childhswv.org
Pictured from left to right: Breanne Huber and Steve Tuck
Kids First North Central
Monongalia Family Resource Network
Contact: Brandi Potock, 304-284-8400
Email: bpotock@aol.com
Pictured from left to right: Andrea Stanley, Suzanne Smart and Brandi Potock
Kids First Northern Panhandle
Youth Services System, Inc.
Contact: Linda Edwards, 304-232-8712
Email: ledwards@ysswv.com
Pictured from left to right: Jill Eddy and Linda Edwards
Kids First South
MountainHeart Child Care Services
Contact: Roma Lester, 304-682-8271 or 1-800-834-7082
Email: romalester@wvdhhr.org
Pictured from left to right: Jennifer Lusk and Roma Lester
The Kids First Communities will sponsor a number of regional events for parents, providers, community leaders and policymakers in the coming months. Individuals or organizations looking to get involved in the Kids First campaign can contact their nearest Kids First Leader or click here and sign-up online. Members will receive regular updates about the campaign's progress, get specific action tools to let their voices be heard and learn about local awareness and outreach activities in which they can participate.
