Statewide Effort to Build Support for New Investments in Childcare Quality Under Way 03-20-2008

March 19, 2008 Flatwoods, W.Va. – An unprecedented, grassroots campaign for new public investments in childcare quality is officially under way.   The Kids First Campaign, spearheaded by the West Virginia KIDS COUNT Fund, is the first statewide effort to unite parents, childcare providers and community leaders in support of better childcare.  Six organizations chosen by KIDS COUNT to lead regional Kids First efforts gathered in Flatwoods today to discuss their plans to build support for a childcare quality rating and improvement system.

"We have 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," says Margie Hale, executive director of KIDS COUNT.  "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.  That's why we are so excited about the coalition-building work being undertaken by the Kids First Communities.  These coalitions will provide a new way for parents, providers and community leaders to work together to advocate for new investments in young children."

Hale added that Kids Count and the Kids First Communities are specifically supporting a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for childcare  programs.  She said this system will give childcare programs the support they need to improve their quality and ultimately achieve national accreditation, the gold standard of quality.  KIDS COUNT is anticipating legislation in 2009 that will create this childcare quality rating and improvement system. 

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:  DCHughes@KCS.Kana.K12.WV.US or 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 go to www.wvkidscountfund.org 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.  

KIDS COUNT is West Virginia’s most trusted source of information about the well-being of children and a leader in the effort to educate parents, policymakers and the public about what children need to thrive and achieve.  The organization’s current focus is advocating for new investments to improve the quality of the state’s childcare system.  KIDS COUNT’s members include the state’s most respected business, community and religious leaders. For more information, visit the organization’s web site at www.wvkidscountfund.org.