Our Programs — The Kids First Campaign
West Virginia needs a childcare quality rating and improvement system that gives parents the information they need to make good childcare decisions, childcare providers the supports they need to improve their quality and communities a higher rate of return on their investments in young children.
That's why KIDS COUNT is launching a new awareness and advocacy effort, called the Kids First Communities Campaign, aimed at building grassroots support for new state investments in a quality rating and improvement system. And KIDS COUNT is providing seed money and technical support to establish "Kids First Communities" in seven regions of the state: Beckley, Charleston, Huntington, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Parkersburg and Wheeling.
During the coming year, 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 provides and community leaders together to advocate for a childcare quality rating and improvement system. KIDS COUNT has 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 $5,000 grant.
The Kids First Leaders are (by region):
Kids First Boone-Clay-Kanawha-Putnam
Kanawha Early Childhood Committee of Regional Family Resource Network
Contact: Diane Hughes, 304-595-5521
Email: d_c_hughes@yahoo.com
Kids First Cabell-Wayne
Cabell-Wayne Early Childhood Council
Contact: Judy Kachelreis, 304-429-6167
Email: jkach1@aol.com
Kids First Mid-Ohio Valley
Children's Home Society
Contact: Steve Tuck, 304-485-0650
Email: stuck@childhswv.org
Kids First North Central
Monongalia Family Resource Network
Contact: Brandi Potock, 304-284-8400
Email: bpotock@aol.com
Kids First Northern Panhandle
Youth Services System, Inc.
Contact: Linda Edwards, 304-232-8712
Email: ledwards@ysswv.com
Kids First South
MountainHeart Child Care Services
Contact: Roma Lester, 304-682-8271 or 1-800-834-7082
Email: romalester@wvdhhr.org
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 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.
KIDS COUNT has talked extensively with parents, providers and community leaders throughout West Virginia, and their message is clear: they want a reliable tool for assessing and improving the quality of childcare programs. They know that when we invest in new public structures to improve the quality of childcare we are ensuring a brighter future for our children and our state. The Kids First Communities will provide a new way for parents, providers and community leaders to work together to advocate for new investments in young children. Click here to join the Kids First Campaign and become part of a statewide effort to build a brighter future for our children and our state.