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KIDS NOW Early Childhood Development Initiative

KIDS NOW Early Childhood Development Initiative. Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development. Traditional Legislators Cabinet Secretaries/Staff Early Childhood Professionals (KAECE, KYA) County Extension Libraries Head Start Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies YMCA/YWCA

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KIDS NOW Early Childhood Development Initiative

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  1. KIDS NOWEarly Childhood Development Initiative Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development

  2. Traditional Legislators Cabinet Secretaries/Staff Early Childhood Professionals (KAECE, KYA) County Extension Libraries Head Start Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies YMCA/YWCA Early Interventionists Department of Education Child Care Programs/Staff Parents United Way Family Resource/Youth Services Centers Non-Traditional Legislators Workforce Development Cabinet Higher Education Business (Bell-South, Fidelity, Toyota, UPS) Chamber of Commerce Foundations Kentucky Medical Association AFL-CIO Associated Industries of KY. KY. Association of School Boards KY. Association of School Administrators Parents Catholic Conference KY. Rural Health Association KY. Hospital Association KY. Psychological Association Who?ChampionsGovernor Paul Patton

  3. What? House Bill 706 Comprehensive, multi-faceted bill designed to get us started toward our goal that all young children in Kentucky: • Are healthy and safe • Possess the foundation that will enable school and personal success • Live in strong families that are supported and strengthened within their communities.

  4. KIDS NOW I. Assuring Maternal and Child Health II. Supporting Families III. Enhancing Early Care and Education IV. Establishing the Support Structure

  5. Where? Across the state of Kentucky • Professional Meetings (PTA, KY Assoc. of County Judge Executives, KY Maternal and Child Health Conf.) • Public Forums (10 Task Force Report, 8 Quality Rating System, 7 Professional Development, 7 Community Early Childhood Councils) • Civic Organizations (Chamber of Commerce, Rotary) • Regional Meetings (Area Development Districts) • Local Meetings

  6. When? KIDS NOW History April 1998 Governor Patton announces creation of Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development. November 1998 Executive Director hired after conducting a nationwide search. March 1999 Governor Patton appoints Governor’s Early Childhood Task Force. November 1999 Task Force delivers KIDS NOW 20-year comprehensive plan to Governor Patton. February 15, 2000 HB 706 Introduced. March 28, 2000 Passed both Chambers without one dissenting vote. April 4, 2000 Governor Patton signed HB 706 into law. July 1, 2000 KIDS NOW Implementation.

  7. Why? • Current Brain Research • 90% of the “architectural structure” of the brain is developed by age 3. • Critical periods of brain development happen in the first 3 years of life. • Economic Development • Every child must reach their full potential and grow in to adults who are taxpayers not tax users. • Education Reform • The next logical step in education reform is to address early childhood. • State of Kentucky’s Children • Kentucky ranks near the bottom of states in a number of critical areas. Our children deserve better.

  8. WHY KIDS NOW • KENTUCKY HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF: • infant mortality from birth defects. • neural tube defects (spina bifida) in the nation. • KENTUCKY HAS • Had 28,500 cases of substantiated child abuse/neglect in FY98, 46% involved children under the age of four. • KENTUCKY RANKS: • 42nd with 34% of children under 5 living in poverty. • 35th with the percentage of low birth weight babies born in the last 30 not improving. • 42nd with 33% of children living with parents without full-time, year-round employment. • 49th with 14% of teens who dropout of high school. • 43rd with 12% of teens not in school or working.

  9. How? CoordinatedEffort

  10. Broad RepresentationofTraditional and Non-TraditionalEntities

  11. Collaboration Among Stakeholders

  12. Prenatal Work Group Prenatal Work Group focused on the time period from pre-conception to hospital discharge post-partum.

  13. In-Home Work Group In-Home Work Group focused on providing support to families as they raise their children, birth to age eight, in the home environment.

  14. Early Care & Education:Birth to Five Work Group • This work group addressed early care and education issues of children ages birth to age five who are in out-of-home settings. • These settings included child care programs, Head Start, public preschool programs and “kith and kin” care.

  15. Early Care and Education: School-Age Work Group This work group examined the needs for before and after school child care.

  16. Professional Development Work Group • This work group focused on: • Personnel serving children birth to age 5 • Personnel working across all early care and education settings (e.g., Head Start, Early Intervention, Preschool, Child Care) • Personnel at all levels of education and training

  17. Public Awareness Work Group • This work group addressed issues related to all other work groups. • Objectives: • Inventory - what are we doing now? • Needs Assessment - what are the communication challenges? • Recommendations - what is the best vehicle for the message?

  18. Grass RootsDriven

  19. Location of TenCommunity Forums • Covington • Somerset • Lexington • Owensboro • Bowling Green • Paducah • Madisonville • Louisville • Prestonsburg • Morehead

  20. Advocate Activities • Early Childhood Task Force (March – July 1999) • Prenatal Workgroup • In-Home Workgroup • Early Care and Education (birth – five) Workgroup • Early Care and Education (school-age) Workgroup • Professional Development Workgroup • Public Awareness Workgroup  • 10 Community Forums

  21. Advocate Activities (Continued) • HB 706 KIDS NOW Legislation (February – April 2000) • Postcards To Legislators • Early Childhood Display in Tunnel • On-site Visitation With Legislators • Phone Call To Legislators • KAECE/Child Care Resource and Referral Email Alerts • Weekly Meeting With Advocates

  22. Advocate Activities (Continued) • Implementation (July 2000 – Present) • Quality Rating System Workgroup (July – September 2000) • 6 Community Forums • Professional Development Council • Core Content Workgroup (August 2000 – February 2001) • Training Workgroup (August 2000 – February 2001) • Credentials Workgroup (August 2000- February 2001) • Articulation Workgroup (August 2000 – February 2001) • Scholarship Workgroup (July 2000 – Present) • 10 Community Forums

  23. Advocate Activities (Continued) • Child Indicators Project • Birth to Three Workgroup (June 2001- February 2002) • Three to Five Workgroup (March 2001- February 2002) • K-4 Workgroup (Fall of 2001- February 2000  • State Conferences • KAECE/Head Start Collaborative Annual Conference • Infant Toddler Annual Conference • Early Childhood Annual Conference • School-Age Annual Conference • Working With The Media • Newspaper Articles in Major Papers

  24. Advocate Activities (Continued) • Working With The Media • Newspaper Articles in Major Papers • Appearance on Radio and TV Issue Programs • Press Conferences • Op Ed Pieces by Unusual Suspects

  25. Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development 700 Capitol Avenue, Room 133 Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-2611 Dr. Kim F. Townley, Executive Director Teri Mehler, M.S., Executive Assistant

  26. Challenges • Budget/Economy • Political Climate

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